Membrane biocompatibility does not affect whole body protein metabolism during dialysis.
BACKGROUND
Protein-calorie malnutrition is present in 30-50% of dialysis patients. The lack of biocompatibility of the dialysis membrane, which results in low-grade inflammation, could be responsible for this malnutrition. We investigated whether protein-energy malnutrition could be partly due to incompatibility of the dialyzer during the dialysis session.


METHODS
Five patients were dialyzed during 2 periods of 3 weeks (cross-over) with either a single-use low-flux polysulfone or cellulose triacetate (biocompatible) or a single-use cuprophan (bio-incompatible) membrane. As a measure of whole body protein metabolism, a primed constant infusion of L-[1-(13)C]-valine was used during a 4-hour dialysis session.


RESULTS
Cuprophan was a more powerful activator of the complement system than other membranes. Protein metabolism parameters during both study protocols were not different and resulted in the same protein balance during polysulfone/cellulose triacetate (-15 +/- 3) and cuprophan (-13 +/- 2 micromol/kg/h) dialysis.


CONCLUSIONS
In stable hemodialysis patients with no apparent complications, protein metabolism during dialysis is not affected by the compatibility of the dialysis membrane.
Veeneman
Jorden M
JM
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Hospital Groningen, NL-9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
Kingma
Hermi A
HA
Stellaard
Frans
F
de Jong
Paul E
PE
Reijngoud
Dirk-Jan
DJ
Huisman
Roel M
RM
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006435:Renal Dialysis
D000596:Amino Acids; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011506:Proteins