Comparison between the Effects of High-Flux and LowFlux Membrane on Hemodialysis Adequacy

Abstract

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) therapy is the most commonly used modality of renal replacement therapy worldwide to treat patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). The principle of hemodialysis depends on diffusion of solutes between the patient’s blood and the dialysate fluid through a semipermeable membrane. Two types of such membranes are found in regard to pores sizes: low-flux membrane and high-flux membrane. The HD adequacy can be assessed by measuring the urea reduction ratio (URR) and the Kt/V.
Aim: To determine whether there is effect on the hemodialysis adequacy when a high-flux membrane is used instead of the low flux membrane.
Methods: This is a cross sectional study. The URR and Kt/V were measured for 27 HD patients in two occasions, one on high-flux and the other on low-flux membrane and the results were compared statistically.
Results: The high-flux membrane was associated with statistically significant higher URR and Kt/V (p=0.02 and 0.008 respectively).
Conclusion: High-flux membrane is associated with better dialysis adequacy than low-flux type in HD.