title: Hemodialysis: evidence of enhanced molecular clearance and ultrafiltration volume by using pulsatile flow.
abstract: We describe several in vitro experiments showing evidence that pulsatile flow hemodialysis enhances ultrafiltration volume and molecular clearance as compared with steady flow hemodialysis. A new pulsatile pump and a conventional roller pump were compared using different hollow fiber dialyzers and a simulated blood solution containing urea, aspartame and vitamin B-12 at different flow rates and configurations. Ultrafiltration volume and concentration of urea, aspartame and B-12 were measured and molecular clearance (K) calculated. Ultrafiltration volume markedly increased with pulsatile flow. After 10 min K for urea with pulsatile flow was higher in all experiments even when ultrafiltration was prevented. Clearance of aspartame and B-12 also increased with pulsatile flow. We propose three mechanisms by which pulsatile flow is more efficient than steady flow hemodialysis: greater fluid energy, avoidance of molecular channeling and avoidance of membrane layering. We hypothesize that using pulsatile flow in hemodialysis can significantly shorten the duration of dialysis sessions for most of the patients, and consequently reduce the duration of the procedure and its cost.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Runge
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Briceño
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sheller
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Bohls
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ottmers
mesh_terms: D001218:Aspartame / Q000378:metabolism; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D014462:Ultrafiltration; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions; D014508:Urea; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001218:Aspartame