Which statement about hemoperfusion is true?

• A. It cleanses more blood than hemodialysis
• B. It is the same as plasmapheresis
• C. It cleanses less blood than hemodialysis
• D. It does not involve blood cleansing

Answer: (A)

Hemoperfusion works by passing blood through an adsorbent cartridge (such as activated charcoal or resin) that binds toxins directly from the bloodstream. This adsorption-based removal can be especially effective for substances that are difficult to clear with diffusion-based dialysis, including some protein-bound toxins. Because the cartridge can remove a large amount of toxin quickly as blood flows through, hemoperfusion can purge a substantial portion of circulating toxins within a given time, sometimes more than what hemodialysis achieves in the same period. It’s not plasmapheresis, which removes and replaces plasma rather than relying on adsorption of toxins in a cartridge. And it does involve cleansing blood, so saying it doesn’t would be incorrect.