[On-line hemodiafiltration with endogenous reinfusion (HFR). Experience of a Centre].
OBJECTIVE
Hemodiafiltration reinfusion (HFR) treatment is a dialysis technique that uses the endogenous reinfusion fluid and performs, simultaneously and separately, the three mechanisms of extracorporal depuration: diffusion, convection and adsorption. This study aimed to evaluate clinical and biochemical data of a group of six patients submitted to a dialytic HFR method for >6 months.


METHODS
Six patients with a mean age of 53.8 +/- 11 yrs (five males, one female), treated with standard bicarbonate dialysis for a mean of 79.2 months, underwent HFR for a mean period of 14.9 +/- 6 months. Filters used were: a) in all patients polysulfone with 0.7 m2 of surface for the convection; b) polysulfone with 1.7 m2 in one patient, and modified cellulose with 2.0 m2 in five patients for diffusion; c) hydrophobic interaction resin and uncovered mineral carbon 240 mL for the adsorption. For all patients dialysis duration was 240 min and the amount of reinfusion fluid was 2.5 L/h as a mean, calculated according to blood flow and hematocrit (Hct), keeping a filtration fraction <22%. We evaluated, at different times, the following parameters: a) patient weight; b) Hct and erythropoietin (EPO) doses; c) parathyroid hormone (PTH); d) phosphatemia and doses of administered vitamin D; e) homocysteine (Hcy) and Beta2-microglobulin (Beta2-m); f) and albuminemia and transferrinemia as nutritional parameters.


RESULTS
We observed an increase in Hct, with a reduction in EPO dosage, and an increase in albumin and transferrin levels, an improvement in nutritional indexes and in patient well-being. The mild increase in Hct with the same EPO dose was present in spite of a switch to intravenous (i.v.) administration from subcutaneous administration. There was low morbidity and only one hospitalization due to an infectious episode.


CONCLUSIONS
HFR allows an amino acid saving and pro-inflammatory middle molecule removal, resulting in a better clinical situation for progressively critical uremic patients.
Ballabeni
C
C
Unita' Operativa di Nefrologia e Dialisi, Policlinico MultiMedica, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan.
Maccario
M
M
Ciurlino
D
D
Martino
S
S
Tentori
F
F
Bigatti
G
G
Bertoli
S V
SV
D005260:Female; D017583:Hemodiafiltration / Q000379:methods*; D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*
D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions