REMOVAL OF IRON DEXTRAN BY HEMODIALYSIS - AN IN-VITRO STUDY

Intravenous iron dextran is frequently prescribed for iron-deficient h emodialysis patients, a practice that has increased during the erythro poietin era. Whether iron dextran is removed by hemodialysis has been a concern, especially for high permeability membranes. The purpose of this in vitro study was to measure iron dextran clearance by nine diff erent hemodialyzers (Fresenius F3, F8, and F80B; Baxter CF25, CA150, C A210, and CT190; Toray BK2.1P; and Hospal Filtral 16) representing six types of membranes (polysulfone, cuprophane, cellulose acetate, cellu lose triacetate, polymethylmethacrylate, and polyacrylonitrile) and in cluding membranes considered high efficiency and high flux, Clearances were assessed using a closed-loop, fixed-volume reservoir model. Abso lute drug removal also was determined over the 30-minute experiments, Iron dextran clearance did not exceed 25 mL/min, and clearances also w ere minimal after a single automated reuse with glutaraldehyde sterila nt. A maximum of 8% of iron dextran was removed during the experiment, We conclude that iron dextran clearance by the nine hemodialyzers stu died was small or too low to be detected in this sensitive in vitro di alysis system and that adjusting dosing schedules is not needed. (C) 1 995 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.