1989 Volume 18 Issue 3 Pages 1244-1247
The kinetics of hemodialysis-induced leukopenia and generation of complement fragments including C3a, C5a, C4d, iC3b and Bb were investigated during hemodialysis in 13 patients using cellulose acetate (CA), cuprophan (Cu) and ethylenevinyl alcohol (EVA) membranes. A marked leukopenia with significant plasma C3a and C5a generation in the first 15 minutes were observed in CA and Cu, whereas less in EVA. Plasma iC3b levels was higher in Cu than in CA and EVA. Plasma Bb levels in the first 15 minutes increased significantly in all membranes, and furthermore continued to increase till the end of hemodialysis in CA and Cu. These data suggested that those dialysis membranes activated the complement alternative pathway and that Bb was accumulated during hemodialysis in CA and Cu.
