BACTERIAL CHALLENGE OF NISSHO ULTRAFILTER ETF-609 - RESULTS OF IN-VITRO TESTING

In hemodialysis, a certain degree of bacterial contamination on the di alysate side is a regular finding. Concern has been growing that this contamination may lead to a chronic inflammatory response in the patie nt. Ultrafiltration of dialysate can be used to reduce bacterial conte nt and levels of cytokine-inducing substances upstream of the patient' s dialyzer. The aim of this study was to test in vitro the rejection c apacity of a polysulfone hollow-fiber ultrafilter (ETF 609, NISSHO Co. , Osaka, Japan) challenged with bacterial filtrates derived from Pseud omonas aeruginosa PA103. Results showed a reduction of interleukin-1 b eta-inducing activity (measured on peripheral blood mononuclear cells) from 5,035 +/- 394 pg/ml prefilter to nondetectable levels postfilter and endotoxin levels (limulus amebocyte lysate assay) of 4,167 +/- 1, 079 versus 12 +/- 2 pg/ml, respectively. In conclusion, ultrafiltratio n of dialysate with the polysulfone ultrafilter ETF 609 leads to a pot ent reduction of cytokine-inducing activity.