HIGH-FLUX DIALYSIS MEMBRANES IMPROVE PLASMA-LIPOPROTEIN PROFILES IN PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE RENAL-DISEASE

A major cause of the morbidity and mortality of patients with end-stag e renal disease (ESRD) is related to disorders of large blood vessels, especially coronary heart disease. Atherosclerosis, the most common f orm of this disease, is known to result from abnormalities in plasma l ipoproteins, as well as from factors that damage the vessel wall. Two well-known risk factors for coronary heart disease are elevated plasma concentrations of LDL and reduced concentrations of HDL. This latter disorder is often accompanied by elevated triglycerides. Low HDL and e levated triglycerides are commonly associated with ESRD. Dialysis with high flux membranes differs from conventional dialysis in a number of ways. These include better biocompatibility and increased flux of lar ger molecules. Although several previous studies had suggested that di alysis with high flux membranes improves plasma lipogrotein profiles, a definitive cross-over designed study to assess the roles of high flu x versus biocompatibility in altering lipoprotein profiles had not bee n done. Preliminary data from such a study are presented. These data c onfirm the beneficial effects of high flux membranes to reduce plasma triglycerides and suggest that this effect is primarily due to the hig h flux, and not the biocompatible, feature of the membranes.