A new treatment strategy using intermittent short duration dialysis and continuous ambulatory hemofiltration in between

Abstract

The authors have devised a new treatment strategy using continuous ambulatory hemofiltration (CAHF) between short duration hemodialysis (short HD). For CAHF, a small wearable hemofilter (0.1m²) was developed using a membrane permeable to low molecular weight proteins. During short HD, no body water is removed, but saline equivalent to 3% body weight is administered at a constant rate. During CAHF, one liter of replacement fluid is administered intravenously after each meal in order to increase the replacement volume. The switch from conventional strategy to the new strategy has resulted in far more stable blood pressure during short HD, a decrease in time-averaged body weight, and a decrease in time-averaged blood urea nitrogen levels and plasma β₂-microglobulin levels.