Ammonia Intoxication Treated by Hemodialysis

A FEW years ago, an increased concentration of ammonia in the blood was clearly demonstrated in many cases of hepatic coma.1 2 3 This demonstration stimulated us to investigate whether ammonia present in the blood could be removed by a Kolff type of artificial kidney and, if so, what the consequences of its removal might be. In 1955 we reported that ammonia was removed by an artificial kidney with a dialysance varying from 50 to 80 ml. per minute when blood flow was 100 ml. per minute and membrane area was 12,000 square cm.4 We now wish to report the application of . . .