Abstract
From December 1981 to February 1982, 173 patients whose hemodialysis were performed with NAC dialyzers suffered from redness and pain of the eyes. We investigated the exact occurrence, course and prognosis of this by sending a questionnaise to dialysis doctors and patients. About 40% of the patients treated with the NAC dialyzers had experienced this unfoward effect. The occurrence rate peaked at 70% in the first week of February. While the nature of the eye disease was scleritis, many patients complained at the same time of pain of the ear, tinnitus and vertigo, suggesting that the toxic substance affected not only the sclera, but the eighth cranial nerve as well. The symptoms were first seen during dialysis day at the earliest, on following day at the latest, and within 24 hours in 85% of patients. The symptoms subsided after about two weeks in most patients, but persisted longer in those who were treated on multiple occasions with the dialyzer. The prognosis was benign. All symptoms disappeared completely after two to three weeks. The visual disturbances which occurred in 18 cases improved completely, except in one patient. This patient underwent iridectomy under the diagnosis of glaucoma, and the causal relationship to the NAC dialyzer was unclear. When the dialyzers were washed with 1, 000ml of saline before the treatment, the occurrence was reduced considerably. This suggests that the etiologic agent may be soluble in water.
