CHOICE OF DIALYSIS MEMBRANE DOES NOT INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF RESIDUAL RENAL-FUNCTION IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS

It has been recently proposed that haemodialysis membrane choice may i nfluence the maintenance of residual renal function. The aim of the pr esent study was to prospectively analyse the effect of membrane choice on the outcome of renal function in patients entering a chronic haemo dialysis programme. Twenty-two patients from four hospitals have been randomly assigned to be dialysed with either polysulphone(PSF)/polyacr ylonitrile (PAN) (group A; n = 9), or cuprophane membranes (group B; n = 13). Basal and monthly serum biochemistry, residual creatinine clea rance (C(cr)) and urine volume (Vu), pharmacological and dialytic trea tment, diet, and haemodialysis-related complications were recorded. A significant decrease was observed in the two most relevant variables, i.e. remnant C(cr) and Vu, within 3 months of starting haemodialysis, with stabilization during the further follow-up. Such decrease was sim ilar (P NS) for both groups A and B throughout the 9-month observation period. In conclusion, our results suggest that the choice of haemodi alysis membrane does not influence the outcome of the residual renal f unction. Renal function decreased significantly within 3 months on hae modialysis, independently of the type of dialyser membrane.