Cuprophane Research Articles

Polycarbonate versus Cuprophan Dialyzers: Effect on Platelet Function

Despite the use of various modalities of heparinization, bleeding episodes constitute a treat during hemodialysis in high-risk patients. The bleeding tendency may not only be due to the effect of heparin per se, but also reflect platelet injury elicited by interaction between platelets and foreign surfaces in the extracorporeal circuit. Accordingly, decline in platelet count, extraction of platelets in the dialyzer, decrease in platelet aggregation and increase in plasma levels of beta-thromboglobulin and antithrombin III (AT III) attend hemodialysis. In the present study, 12 patients were studied during two successive dialyses using membranes based on cuprophan (CP) and polycarbonate (PC). Indicating extraction of platelets in the dialyzer, hemodialysis with CP membranes induced a decline in platelet count during the 1 st h of treatment. The platelet count was, however, unchanged during dialysis with PC membranes. Irrespective of the membrane material, hemodialysis was associated with platelet injury as reflected by intradialytic deterioration of platelet aggregation and rise in plasma beta-thromboglobulin. Both immunological AT III and AT III activity were unchanged during dialysis. The results stress the need for continued search for biologically inert dialyzer membrane materials.