Abstract
The mechanism of antithrombogenicity of a PEG grafted cellulose membrane (PC) was studied with chronic hemodialysis patients. The quantity of adsorbed protein, especially of large molecular proteins including fibrinogen, in PC was significantly lower than that in original cellulose (OC). The increment of TAT during OC-HD was significantly suppressed by PC. The adsorbed protein in OC module circulated with bovine plasma treated by enough heparin was lowered to the level in PC. This result also indicates that the adsorbed protein in OC with ordinary heparin dose may be some coagulating proteins. Circulating platelet count was significantly decreased and β TG was increased significantly during OC-HD. However, these phenomena were not detected in PC-HD. Platelet counts adhered to OC after 4 hrs HD observed by SEM were significantly more than that to PC. These results indicate that PC suppressed the activation of coagulation factors and platelets. This antithrombogenicity of PC may be produced by the inhibition of blood-membrane surface interaction through the random movement of PEG chain on cellulose membrane.
