We compared the in vitro performance of brand-name and generic spherical carbon absorbents by studying their physicochemical and adsorptive properties.There was no correlation between specific surface area and adsorption rate for pigment substances.The adsorption removal rates for pigment substances and uremic toxins were almost the same for Kremezin and Kyucal but the adsorption removal rates of some substances were lower for Merckmezin than those for Kremezin.In addition,the adsorption rates for digestive enzymes,important in vivo substances that should not be adsorbed,were high for Kremezin but low for Kyucal and Merckmezin.We found that Kremezin and Kyucal were comparable as regards the adsorption removal rate of indole in the presence of pepsin and sodium cholate,in vivo substances,but with Merckmezin,the adsorption removal rate for indole was lower.In our findings,we noted that the adsorption performance of the generic product Kyucal for most substances was equivalent to that of Kremezin while the adsorption performance of Merckmezin for some substances was lower than that of Kremezin.As a particular conclusion,the lower adsorption removal rate of Merckmezin for indole in the presence of vivo substances needs to be taken into consideration as this will affect clinical results.
