DIALYSATE FLUID AND BIOCOMPATIBILITY IN HEMODIALYSIS

This article summarise the main data in the literature on the role of bacteriological contamination of the dialysate fluid in inflammatory r eactions in hemodialysis. Pyrogenic substances of small molecular weig ht from Gramnegative bacteria grown in dialysate can pass across intac t dialyzer membrane to stimulate cytokine production by peripheral blo od mononuclear cells. Cellulosic hemodialysis membranes are more perme able to endotoxins than synthetic membranes. Polysulfone membranes and polyamide membranes are able to adsorb bacterial toxins on the dialys ate side. The diffusive transfer of bacterial products across dialysis membrane from dialysate fluid was demonstrated. Transmembrane passage of cytokine-inducing bacterial products across reprocessed dialyzers is greater than across new dialyzers. Bacteriological contamination of the dialysate fluid is a problem which must be considered with much m ore care by nephrologists, especially as LAL test is unable to detect all the bacterial products which can contaminate the dialysate fluid.