Effect of Dialyzer Membranes on Beta-2 Microglobulin Production in Thai Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Responses to different types of dialyzer membranes in an Asian population may differ from those of a Caucasian population. Comparative studies on the effects of different dialyzer membranes on beta-2 microglobulin production are also limited. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the effects of different dialyzer membranes on in vitro mononuclear cell production of beta-2 microglobulin in 9 Thai hemodialysis patients. Each patient was dialysed with 4 different types of dialyzer, including cuprophane (CUP), cellulose diacetate (CD), polysulphone (PS), and polyacrylonitrile membrane (PAN), each for a 1-month period in a randomized sequence. Mononuclear cell culture was done by taking an immediate post-dialysis blood sample at the end of the 1-month period. Beta-2 microglobulin production from cell culture was determined 24 hours later. Mononuclear cell culture and determination of beta-2 microglobulin production from the culture were also done in 10 normal controls and 10 predialysis ESRD patients. The beta-2 microglobulin productions (μg/L) were shown as follows; Control CUP CD PS PAN Normal controls 169±18* - - - - Predialysis ESRD 162±29* - - - - Hemodialysis pateints - 268±47 198±4 175±40* 173±20* (* p < 0.05 compared to cuprophane membrane) Conclusion: polysulphone and polyacrylonitrile membrane induced significantly less beta-2 microglobulin production compared to cuprophane and slightly less compared to cellulose diacetate membrane.