Abstract
The concentrations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) are reported to be lower in dialysis patients than in HCV-positive non-dialysis patients. We investigated the elimination dynamics of HCV antigens (core proteins) levels pre- and post-dialysis using a regenerated cellulose membrane (CU ; AM-FP1.3), cellulose triacetate membrane (CTA ; FB-150E), polymethylmethacrylate membrane (PMMA ; BK-1.6P), or polysulfone membrane (PS ; F-70S). The rates of HCV antigen decrease by a single dialysis session were as follows 32.7±10.5% with the F-70S, 19.0±2.2% with the BK-1.6P, 10.4±1.7% with the FB-150E, and 8.8±2.2% with the AM-FP1.3. Furthermore, we compared the HCV antigen elimination ability of each dialysis membrane material in an in vitro experiment. We perfused albumin (Alb) containing HCV in the blood circuit connected to AM-FP1.3, FB-130U, BK-1.3P, and F-60S, and measured quantities of HCV antigen and Alb over time. The quantity of HCV antigen decreased 25.8% with the F-60S, 20.5% with the BK-1.3P, 16.0% with the FB-130U, and 10.5% with the AM-FP1.3. Furthermore, to confirm HCV adsorption to the dialysis membrane, we perfused washing solution containing non-ionic surfactant in the blood circuit used in the above investigation, and measured quantities of HCV antigen in the washing solution. The quantities of HCV antigen eluted in the washing solution were nearly equivalent to the decreases in HCV observed in the in vitro experiment. In conclusion, HCV in blood is adsorbed and eliminated by dialysis membranes.
