ALUMINUM REMOVAL WITH THE DOUBLE CHAMBER TECHNIQUE - PAIRED FILTRATION-DIALYSIS (PFD)

Several dialysis techniques have been used to improve aluminium remova l. So far there are no data available using paired filtration-dialysis (PFD). In this study, we evaluated the aluminium removed by PFD in tw o phases. Bovine plasma with known concentrations of aluminium and des ferrioxamine was used in both experiments. In phase I, the aluminium r emoval was investigated using the PFD system (single pass) in its usua l configuration, modifying the order of the convective and diffusive p rocesses, dialysis with high permeability membranes and dialysis with low permeability membranes. During the second phase, the experiment la sted longer using recirculation, and the PFD was compared with convent ional dialysis using high permeability membranes. Changes in the PFD c onfiguration did not alter the aluminium removal; the efficiency of PF D for aluminium removal was very close to that of dialysis with high p ermeability membranes and much greater than with low permeability memb ranes. The aluminium is removed mainly in the first part of the dialys is. Aluminium mobilization using the double chamber technique (PFD) wa s efficient and might be of value for those patients with aluminium ov erload who needs high depurative techniques and are unable to tolerate high-flux techniques.