title: Dialyzer re-use--a multiple crossover study with random allocation to order of treatment.
abstract: A multiple crossover research study was used to evaluate the effect of dialyzer re-use on fever, blood leaks, serum urea and creatinine values and symptoms. Each of 6 crossover periods consisted of 4 weeks on either single-use or re-use, 1 week washout, 4 weeks on the alternative treatment and 1 week washout. The re-use consisted of 6 uses of each dialyzer and the washout weeks consisted of 3 single-use sessions. Analysis of paired observations within rather than between patients showed no effects of time (i.e. among crossover periods 1 through 6) or number of re-uses (i.e. among uses 1 through 6). There was no significant difference for temperature change during dialysis, blood leak rate, or the serum urea and creatinine values before the first dialysis of each washout period. There were no differences for symptoms of pruritus, cramps, nausea, headache, chest pain, backache or fatigue. There were no clinical advantages or disadvantages associated with dialyzer re-use.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, Ont., Canada.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Churchill
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Beecroft
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ludwin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sackett
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014508:Urea; D002482:Cellulose; C009865:cuprammonium cellulose; D003404:Creatinine