title: Rationale for the use of the acac microcapsule artificial kidney for the treatment of patients with chronic renal failure.
abstract: The A C A C microcapsule artificial kidney is prepared to have 300 gr. of albumin-coated cellulose nitrate microincapsulated activated charcoal with a total area surface of 2,5 m2. The membrane thickness is 0,05 micron, at least 100 times thinner than the standard hemodialysis membrane. By Albumin microencapsulation it is possible to prevent charcoal embolism, hemolysis, platelet and fibrin consumtion. The resistance to blood flow is smaller than in the kill artificial kidney. We have carried out a clinical trial in uremic patients, in 3 of them up to 8 months; their general feeling of well-being after two hours of AC A C microcapsule hemoperfusion is better than after 6 hours hemodialysis, in case of water and electrolyte retention one run of 6 hours hemodialysis a week was required, Reticolocyte, platelet count and hemoglobulin level improved appreciably. Clearance of middle molecules is much higher than in standard hemodialysis and preliminary reports show a lower middle molecules peak after hemoperfusion. It would appear that the present microcapsule artificial kidney, if supplemented with further development for the removal of water and electrolyte, may eventually become a compact inexpensive, simple way of treating uremic patients.
mesh_terms: D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002606:Charcoal; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D007688:Kidneys, Artificial; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008970:Molecular Weight; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D002606:Charcoal