COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION IN DIALYSIS - EFFECTS ON CYTOKINES, LYMPHOCYTE-ACTIVATION AND BETA(2) MICROGLOBULIN

Anaphylatoxins generated by complement activation by filter membranes are present in plasma during hemodialysis (HD). In the presence of end otoxins which may contaminate the dialysate, they can trigger monocyte s to produce interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), wit h detrimental effects for the patients. We have investigated whether o r not the use of complement activating (cuprophan) and non-(or less-) activating membranes (polysulfone, polymethylmethacrylate or polyacryl onitrile) per se influences cytokine levels in HD patients. Our result s indicate that if a sterile bicarbonate solution is used as dialysate , there are no significant increases in IL-1, TNF, interleukin-2 (IL-2 ) and soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2r) throughout HD, even with cuproph an membranes, Moreover even a prolonged use of this membrane (three mo nths) did not change pre-dialysis levels of cytokines and receptors. U se of complement activating membranes also does not influence beta(2) microglobulin levels.