Abstract
Whether the use of dialyzers with HPMs has a beneficial effect on renal anemia in hemodialyzed patients is still a matter of controversy. We therefore addressed this issue by comparing two HPM dialyzers, BK-F and FB-U, in dialyzed patients undergoing short-time maintenance hemodialysis.
Following a change in dialyzer from BK-F to FB-U, the patient's hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin levels rose significantly. Consequently, the dose of human recombinant erythropoietin required during the BK-F-treatment period was lower than during the FB-U-treatment period. In contrast, serum albumin concentrations (Alb) were lower in the BK-F-treatment period than during the FB-U-treatment period. This amelioration of renal anemia by BK-F was greatly diminished when BK-F was switched back to FB-U.
The results of the present study indicate that BK-F alleviates renal anemia, presumably by removing erythropoiesis-suppressing factors from the serum of uremic patients. However, one must be alert to BK-F's Alb reducing effect, especially in patients with low Alb.
