Review: membranes for haemodialysis.
Haemodialysis, by design, uses a semipermeable membrane to separate blood from dialysate. The qualities of this membrane determine the nature of the 'traffic' between the blood and dialysate. In this sense, the qualities of the membrane determine what size molecules move from one compartment to the other, the amount and rate at which they might move and the amount and rate of water movement across the membrane. In addition, the nature of the membrane influences the biological response of the patient both in terms of what is or is not removed by the dialysis process and by way of the reaction to the biocompatibility of the membrane. This brief review will explore aspects of dialysis membrane characteristics.
Kerr
Peter G
PG
Department of Nephrology, Monash Medical Centre, Locked Bag 29, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia. peter.kerr@med.monash.edu.au
Huang
Louis
L
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000266:history; D004867:Equipment Design; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010539:Permeability; D016062:Porosity; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial