Hemodialysis-Related Leukotriene B4 Generation and Neutropenia During Calcium Channel Blockade

Abstract

Cuprophane membranes elict intense blood-surface interactions during clinical hemodialysis. The goal of the present studies was to determine whether calcium channel blockade may alter hemodialysis-related leukotriene B4 (LTB4) generation and neutropenia in 12 patients with end-stage renal failure. The patients were randomized to receive either placebo or nitrendipine for six weeks. Compared with untreated patients, the calcium channel blocker treatment group had significantly lower predialysis plasma LTB4 levels, Nitrendipine reduced both the magnitude of LTB4 generation and of neutropenia during the early phase of hemodialysis, but did not alter the close temporal relation of LTB4 accumulation and neutrophil activation. Therefore, the generation and release of LTB4 by neutrophils may be a calcium-dependent event. Furthermore, these results suggest that activation of neutrophil 5-lipoxygenase may contribute to the alterations in neutrophils of hemodialysis patients.