title: Relationship between platelet count and hemodialysis membranes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One factor associated with poor outcomes in hemodialysis patients is exposure to a foreign membrane. Older membranes are very bioincompatible and increase complement activation, cause leukocytosis by activating circulating factors, which sequesters leukocytes in the lungs, and activates platelets. Recently, newer membranes have been developed that were designed to be more biocompatible. We tested if the different "optiflux" hemodialysis membranes had different effects on platelet levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-nine maintenance hemodialysis patients with no known systemic or hematologic diseases affecting their platelets had blood drawn immediately prior to, 90 minutes into, and immediately following their first hemodialysis session of the week. All patients were dialyzed using a Fresenius Medical Care Optiflux polysulfone membrane F160, F180, or F200 (polysulfone synthetic dialyzer membranes, 1.6 m(2), 1.8 m(2), and 2.0 m(2) surface area, respectively, electron beam sterilized). Platelet counts were measured from each sample by analysis using a CBC analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of the patients was 62.7 years; 36 were female and 63 were male. The mean platelet count pre, mid, and post dialysis was 193 (standard deviation ±74.86), 191 (standard deviation ±74.67), and 197 (standard deviation ±79.34) thousand/mm3, respectively, with no statistical differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Newer membranes have no significant effect on platelet count. This suggests that they are, in fact, more biocompatible than their predecessors and may explain their association with increased survival.
authors: Department of Nephrology, Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors: Rabih
authors: R
authors: Nasr
authors: Chadi
authors: C
authors: Saifan
authors: Iskandar
authors: I
authors: Barakat
authors: Yorg Al
authors: YA
authors: Azzi
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Naboush
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Saad
authors: Suzanne El
authors: SE
authors: Sayegh
keywords: bioincompatible events; cellulosic membranes; complement activation; electron beam sterilized; platelet count; polysulfone membranes
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