Effect of Blood Supply to the Filter on the Clearance of Small Molecular Weight Toxins during Conventional Hemodialysis

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the benefit of using a high blood supply to the filter in terms of clearance of small molecular weight toxins during conventional hemodialysis. Patients-Methods: We studied 23 hemodialyzed patients (12M, 11F) over 18 years of age, (aged from 44 to 93 years, mean ± SD = 65.1 ± 12.6), on conventional hemodialysis (for 15 to 455 months, mean ± SD = 88 ± 113), used a blood supply of 300 or 400 ml/min to the filter, with surface area of 2.1 m2, determining Kt/V and URR, as well as the potassium, urea, creatinine and b2-microglobulin removal, in two dialysis sessions separated by one week (with collection of the hole ultrafiltrate in each of the two dialysis sessions). The same filter was used in both cases and the same dialysate, in 4-hour sessions in all cases. Results: A statistically significantly better removal of small molecular weight toxins (Kt/V and URR) was found with the 400 ml/min blood pump (p p 2-microglobulin removal in the same blood supply. Conclusion: It appears that higher blood supply contributes to better removal of low molecular weight toxins and numerically also of b2-microglobulin. The potassium removed seems to be relatively small compared to the usual daily intake, when the potassium of the dialysate is 3 mmol/L, which probably means its significant removal achieved by large intestine.