Abstract
To evaluate the biocompatibility of hemodialysis membranes, twenty patients (10 male, 10 female) on maintenance hemodialysis were treated with different dialysis membranes, and the plasma levels of the generated terminal complement complex (TCC) were compared. Quantitation of TCC was carried out by the sandwich ELISA method using a monoclonal antibody against the neoantigen (by Kusunoki) of TCC.
With cuprophan (Cu), the plasma concentrations of TCC at 30min, 2hrs and 4hrs after the start of dialysis were higher than the corresponding predialysis levels. These concentrations were significantly higher than those obtained with synthetic membranes such as ethylenvinylalcohol (EVAL) and polysulfone (PS) dialysers. No significant difference in TCC concentrations was obtained with EVAL or PS.
ELISA quantitation of plasma TCC proved to be useful for evaluating dialysis membranes.
