Abstract
This study was conducted to make clear the advantages and disadvantages of elimination of large molecules by using a dialyzer of higher cut-off point than that of conventional one. A dialyzer with a higher cut-off point, known as a KF-101-12C dialyzer, was compared with a conventional Cuprophan membrane dialyzer AM-10 for removal of low molecular weight proteins. Nine low molecular weight proteins were removed with hemodialysis by the KF-101-12C dialyzer that were undetectable by the AM-10 dialyzer. A cross-over study on 27 long term dialysis patients with the KF and AM-10 dialyzers was made. The erythrocyte count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin levels significantly increased with the KF-101-12C dialyzer. However, together with the β2-microglobulin decreased, and the plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol increased on the KF-101-12C dialyzer. It is clear that a new membrane has to developed that would have a sharply increased rejection rate for substances larger than albumin.
