Extracorporal blood purification: more than diffusion and convection. Does this help?

Purpose of review A resurgence of interest in adsorbents for medical application is now being seen. In extracorporeal blood purification techniques, the application of unselective adsorbents has been proven to increase remarkably the removal of plasma solutes accumulated as a result of renal and liver failure. Recent findings The present technology for appropriately modifying several intrinsic characteristics of the adsorbents - such as chemical nature, particle and pore-size distribution and the surface area offered to adsorption - has helped to fine-tune extracorporeal devices for more defined clinical applications. These properties, together with improved biocompatibility, have allowed the development of adsorptive techniques to obtain clearances and total removal rates of target compound that would be unthinkable with conventional hemodialysis or hemofiltration. Summary Despite several adsorptive techniques already being available commercially for treatment of sepsis/septic shock and acute liver failure, controlled studies with clinical end points are still lacking. In the near future it is expected that a final answer to the question in this article's title will be provided.