Abstract
Platelet injury by hollow fiber dialyzer was evaluated by measuring beta-thrombin (β-TG) and paletelet factor 4 (PF-4).
Dialyzer membranes examined were cuprophane, regenerated cellulose and cellulose acetate. Influence of dialyzer design was also studied comparing the effects of cylinder, flat and spiral types.
Fifteen patients of end stage renal disease maintained on regular dialysis treatment including 7 males and 8 females with mean age of 45 were studied. Blood sampling was done at the contralateral forearm of arteriovenous fistulae. Drugs which have influence on platelet function were withdrawn at least one week before sampling. Infuluence of sterilization of dialyzer was studied comparing the effects ethlene oxide and formaldehyde.
Plasma β-TG increased after dialysis in all kinds of membranes and designs. The tendency was prominent in cuprophane membrane with significant difference between before (112±21ng/ml) “M±S.D.) and after (148±36ng/ml) dialysis (p<0.05). As to the difference of designs, the increase was most prominent in spiral type; 112±19ng/ml before and 150±32ng/ml after dialysis. Difference by sterilization was not observed. PF-4 showed no difference in change, independent of membranes and designs.
The observation suggests that cuprophane membrane have a destructive damage on platelet potentially and spiral type is not favourable.
