title: Evaluation and tolerance of a new polycarbonate membrane in elderly patients. Preliminary results.
abstract: We studied the performance and tolerance of a new capillary hemodialyzer using a polycarbonate membrane (Gambrane PCD 1000) in a group of 5 elderly patients (mean age 68 years). The ultrafiltration coefficient is 6 (justifying the monitoring control of weight loss) and clearances for small molecules are comparable with cellulosic membranes. A good tolerance during 300 sessions was observed; nevertheless, an important neutropenia was noted in 2 out of 5 patients. The complement activation measured by the dosage of the C3a Desarg fraction existed in all the patients, reaching an average 6 times the initial level compared to 40 times for Cuprophan. Complement activation and neutropenia are considerably reduced by the reuse of the hemodialyzer as it was described for the cellulosic membranes.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D015926:Complement C3a; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003738:Dental Cements; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D010976:Platelet Count; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014462:Ultrafiltration; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D003738:Dental Cements; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010710:Phosphates; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; C005506:polycarbonate; D014527:Uric Acid; D015926:Complement C3a; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine