Devices, systems, and methods for reducing levels of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators in the blood, generated as a result of extracorporeal blood processing

1. A blood processing method comprising

selecting for use an adsorption medium comprising a group of polymeric particles each comprising a hydrophobic core and a biocompatible hydrophilic coating, the adsorption medium selected to have a Biocompatibility Index of not greater than 14 derived by a protocol consisting essentially of

(i) selecting blood indicators which quantify, physiologic changes based upon contact between the adsorption medium and blood, the blood indicators consisting essentially of (1) white blood cell count diminution as a result of contact with the adsorption medium ascertained by Coulter Counter; (2) red blood cell count diminution as a result of contact with the adsorption medium ascertained by Coulter Counter; (3) platelet count diminution as a result of contact with the adsorption medium ascertained by Coulter Counter; (4) leukocytes activation as a result of contact with the adsorption medium ascertained by measuring polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase concentration (PMN Elastase Concentration); (5) complement activation as a result of contact with the adsorption medium ascertained by measuring anaphylatoxin C3a-desArg concentrations; (6) occurrence of hemolysis as a result of contact with the adsorption medium ascertained by determining concentrations of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); and reduction of clot formation as a result of contact with the adsorption medium ascertained by measuring concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin-complex (TAT),

(ii) for each indicator, ascertaining a maximum difference between the indicator values over 25 ml of flow of heperinized blood heperinized to a final concentration of 1.0 IU heparin/ml blood passed through a biocompatible housing without the adsorption medium, comprising a baseline value, and heparinized blood passed through the housing containing the adsorption medium, and for each indicator, expressing the maximum change as a percentage change, relative to the baseline value,

(iii) scoring the percentage change for each indicator as a dimensionless numeric quantity 1, 2, or 3, depending upon the magnitude of the percentage change, in accordance with

The Biocompatibility Index Score Table

Numeric Scores

1

2

3

(Signifying

(Signifying

(Signifying

Most

an

a Least

Desired

Acceptable

Desired

Degree of

Degree of

Degree of

Blood

Biocompati-

Biocompati-

Biocompati-

Indicator

bility)

bility)

bility)

Loss of White

Maximum

Maximum

Maximum

Blood Cells

Difference

Difference

Difference

Between

Between

Between

Baseline

Baseline and

Baseline and

and Medium

Medium (25

Medium (25

(25 ml)

ml)

ml)

≦15%

>15%

>20%

≦20%

Loss of Red

Maximum

Maximum

Maximum

Blood Cells

Difference

Difference

Difference

Between

Between

Between

Baseline

Baseline and

Baseline and

and Medium

Medium (25

Medium (25

(25 ml)

ml)

ml)

≦15%

>15%

>20%

≦20%

Loss of

Maximum

Maximum

Maximum

Platelets

Difference

Difference

Difference

Between

Between

Between

Baseline

Baseline and

Baseline and

and Medium

Medium (25

Medium (25

(25 ml)

ml)

ml)

≦15%

>15%

>20%

≦20%

PMN Elastase

Maximum

Maximum

Maximum

Concentration

Difference

Difference

Difference

Between

Between

Between

Baseline

Baseline and

Baseline and

and Medium

Medium (25

Medium (25

(25 ml)

ml)

ml)

≦15%

>15%

>20%

≦20%

LDH

Maximum

Maximum

Maximum

Concentration

Difference

Difference

Difference

Between

Between

Between

Baseline

Baseline and

Baseline and

and Medium

Medium (25

Medium (25

(25 ml)

ml)

ml)

≦15%

>15%

>20%

≦20%

C3a-desArg

Maximum

Maximum

Maximum

Concentration

Difference

Difference

Difference

Between

Between

Between

Baseline

Baseline and

Baseline and

and Medium

Medium (25

Medium (25

(25 ml)

ml)

ml)

≦20%

>20%

>25%

≦25%

TAT

Maximum

Maximum

Maximum

Concentration

Difference

Difference

Difference

Between

Between

Between

Baseline

Baseline and

Baseline and

and Medium

Medium (25

Medium (25

(25 ml)

ml)

ml)

≦15%

>15%

>20%

≦20%

(iv) after scoring each indicator with a numeric quantity of 1, 2, or 3, adding the numeric quantities scored for all the indicators to obtain a total, the total comprising the Biocompatibility Index,

conveying blood drawn from an individual to an extracorporeal centrifugal blood separation apparatus,

operating the extracorporeal centrifugal blood separation apparatus to conduct centrifugal separation of a blood component from the blood, the centrifugal separation triggering an incidental generation of cytokines in the blood component,

removing from the blood component the cytokines that are generated as a result of the centrifugal separation of the blood comprising passing the blood component through the absorption medium.

2. A method according to claim 1

wherein the blood component includes a red blood cell component.

3. A method according to claim 1

wherein the blood component includes a platelet component.

4. A method according to claim 1

wherein the blood component includes a white blood cell component.

5. A method according to claim 1 further including returning the blood component to the individual following removal of cytokines.

6. A method according to claim 1

further including retaining the blood component following removal of cytokines.

7. A method according to claim 1

wherein the hydrophobic core comprises hydrophobic, cross-linked porous divinylbenzene material, and

wherein the hydrophilic coating comprises biocompatible hydrophilic polyvinylpyrrolidone material.