Multicenter study of the PAN-DX polyacrylonitrile membrane

PAN-DX is a synthetic, high flux and biocompatibility polyacrylanitrile dia lysis membrane. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency and sec urity of PAN-DX in relation to cellulosic dialysis membranes, in hemodialys is stables patients. We designed a cooperative, multicenter and prospective study including 39 patients from 9 hospitals all over Spain. These patient s made up also the control group, on which cuprophane membrane dialyzers we re used for the 4 initial weeks, followed a 30-week period with PAN-DX, wit hout changes in hemodialysis prescriptions. Biochemistry, haematology, urea kinetics and the main anthropometric parameters were all measured during w eeks 0 12, 24 and 30. Nutritional score (normal nutrition = 0 points; sever e malnutrition > 8 points) was calculated, according anthropometric paramet ers, in all patients. Adverse events and hemodialysis tolerance were regist red during clinic study . Mean age of patients included in this study was 5 9,8 +/- 15,3 years (27 male, 12 female) and they had been on hemodialysis f or 62,9 4 64,4 months. Five patients (12,8%) disscontinued the study before conclusion, bur none of them died. Haematologic and bone metabolism parame ters remained stables during the study. PNA-DX dialysis was associated with , a higher predialysis bicarbonate (22.4 3.2 vs 23.9 +/- 2.8 mEq/l, p < 0.0 5) and better dialysis dose indexes,like a single pool Kt/V (0.96 +/- 0. 17 vs 1.04 +/- 0.14, p< 0.05) and urea reduction rare (61 +/- 6% vs 64 +/- 5% , p < 0.05). Early and significative decrease of Pz-microglobulin was found in this study (36.0 +/- 17.7 mg/l in cellulosic period vs 28.2 +/- 11.4 mg /l in PAN-DX period p < 0.01). Serum albumin levels significantly increased (4.0 +/- 0.4 g/dl vas 4.2 It 0.4 g/dl, p < 0.05), and the subcapsular skin fold was the only anthropometric parameter that increased with PAN-DX membr ane dialysis, Nutritional score decresed with the synthetic membrane 17. 15 +/- 2.66 vs 6.69 +/- 2.60, p < 0.05, showed a better nutritional status in patients dialyzed with PAN-DX membrane. Adverse events were rare during th e study and dialysis tolerance was very good. In conclusion, our results suggest that PAN-DX membrane can contribute to d ialysis adequacy increase Pz-microglobulin clearance and improve nutritiona l status of hemodialysis patients.