BEHAVIOR OF WHITE BLOOD-CELLS AND THE COMPLEMENT-SYSTEM

Seven different types of dialysers were investigated in five dialysis centres in four countries with respect to behaviour of white blood cel ls and the complement system. The results of this controlled crossover study demonstrated significant differences in the dialysers. Those co ntaining cuprammonium cellulose (G10-3N and G120 M) showed the greates t changes in white blood cell count, including monocytes and neutrophi ls, as well as the greatest complement activation. With regard to lymp hocytes the subpopulation of low-mobility cells, which were predominan tly the B-cells, showed the greatest mobility with dialysers containin g cuprammonium cellulose. The PAN copolymer- and PMMA-containing dialy sers Filtral and T 150 clearly caused the least changes in white blood cells and complement factors. Dialysers containing cellulose acetate and polysulphone membranes (Duo-Flux (TM) Artificial Kidney, CD 4000, and F 60) produced only a moderate decrease of WBC, monocyte, neutroph il, and lymphocyte counts, and this result corresponded to a relativel y small change in complement factors.