STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN DIALYSIS MEMBRANES AFTER BLOOD CONTACT

Abstract

The objective of this study is to elucidate the quantitative changes in membrane structure after blood contact by means of pore model studies utilizing radioisotope-labeled urea. Five kinds of tubular dialysis membranes were employed to determine both solute and pure water permeability before and after blood contact. The mean pore radius of EV A membranes (50Å) decreased after blood treatment. This demonstrates that serum albumin with a Stokes radius of 35.5Å tends to plug the pores of EV A membranes. The experimental results indicate that changes in membrane structure affecting the permeability of dialysis membranes are dependent on the adsorptive properties of membrane surface and pore size.