Biocompatibility of Hemodiafilters

BACKGROUND: Biocompatibility and the efficiency of solute removal are important considerations in blood purification therapy. Improvement of biocompatibility is expected to lead to the prevention of dialysis-related complications (e.g. amyloidosis, arteriosclerosis, and malnutrition) and to the delay of disease progression by alleviating microinflammation. SUMMARY: The biocompatibility of dialyzers is greatly influenced by the interaction between blood and the treatment materials, in which the chemical and physical characteristics of membrane materials play important roles. In hemodiafiltration (HDF), treatment characteristics such as dilution modes are also considered to greatly affect this interaction between blood and materials. Studies have reported that the levels of C-reactive protein are decreased in patients receiving HDF. Thus, the improvement of biocompatibility is an important factor in HDF. Key Messages: To improve the biocompatibility of HDF, it is essential to improve the biocompatibility of hemodiafilters. This article outlines the importance of biocompatibility and related factors in HDF.