Abstract
It is more than 5 years since we introduced hemofiltration (HF) for clinical use in January, 1976. We have investigated this treatment both from the standpoint of hard wares such as filter and HF device, and soft wares such as filter performance and the body response to mass-transfer. With the development in technology, those hard wares can now be clinically used with satisfaction. As for the soft wares, the analysis of filter performance with consideration on the solute-removal in the body has been under investigation. Due to the progress in the soft wares as well as in the hard wares, the range of molecular weight of the substances to be removed by HF, including certain types of protein, has been extended. As the result, the incidence of disequilibrium syndromes and hypotension is significantly reduced and carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism are improved. Therefore, HF is considered a more effective treatment for the chronic renal failure patients.
