Exposure of hemodialysis patients to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate

The migration of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) from dialyzers was studie d in 21 patients with chronic renal failure undergoing maintenance hemodial ysis. The circulating concentrations of DEHP were measured by high performa nce liquid chromatography in blood of patients obtained from the inlet and the outlet of the dialyzer during a 4-h dialysis session. During treatment of renal failure using plasticized tubing, the plasma level of DEHP increas ed. On average, an estimated 75.2 mg of DEHP was extracted from the dialyze r during a single dialysis session, with a range of 44.3-197.1 mg. On the o ther hand, the total amount of DEHP retained by the patient during the dial ysis session was evaluated by the difference between the AUC(out) and the A UC(in) and ranged from 3.6 to 59.6 mg. The rate of extraction of DEHP from the dialyzer was correlated (r = 0.705, P < 0.05) with serum lipid content (cholesterol and triglyceride). So, we confirmed that patients on hemodialysis are always regularly exposed to considerable amounts of DEHP. However, several metabolic effects have b een reported in various animal species following treatment with DEHP, such as changes in lipid metabolism and in hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzyme activities. DEHP is now a well-known hepatic peroxisomal proliferato r in rodents and an inducer of many peroxisomal and non-peroxisomal enzymes . So, lipid metabolism modifications and hepatic changes observed in hemodi alysis patients could be explained from chronic exposition to DEHP. In the coming years, it seems necessary to reconsider the use of DEHP as a plastic izer in medical devices. Highly unacceptable amounts of DEHP leached during the dialysis session could be easily avoided by careful selection of hemod ialysis tubing. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.