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Abstract Background and Aims In end-stage kidney disease, solutes with a wide spectrum of molecular weight, called uremic toxins, are retained due to impaired kidney cleansing capacity. Particularly, the retention of toxins in the middle molecular weight range 15–45 kDa might negatively affects multiple organ systems and metabolic pathways. The removal of such large uraemic toxins is still a challenge. HDF has produced some results although large convective volume, optimal vascular access to increase the blood flow rate and strict water quality management are required. Medium Cut-Off, high Retention Onset membrane have been recently developed introducing the concept therapy called “expanded haemodialysis” (HDx). Furthermore, vitamin E-coated membrane has potential beneficial effects on inflammation and oxidative stress. Method A prospective longitudinal single-center study was conducted for 3 months among 18 chronic haemodialysis patients. Patients were randomly assigned into either HDF with high flux membrane or HDx with Theranova or ViE-X membrane. The primary goal was to assess albumin loss among the three types of dialyzers. Secondary goals included assessment of depurative efficacy for uraemic toxins and clinical outcomes. Throughout the treatment, a proportional part of the dialysis fluid was collected to quantify albumin loss. Blood samples were taken before and after dialysis session in order to calculate the Removal Ratio and at two different intradialytic timepoints from arterial and venous line of the circuit in order to calculate instantaneous clearance. Results Mean albumin loss was significantly higher in patients undergoing HDx with Theranova membrane (ANOVA, p0.001) without any difference in serum albumin concentration among the three groups. Instantaneous clearance of small and middle molecules was significantly higher in patients undergoing HDF, but we didn't find differences in removal ratio. Reduction of Erythropoietin resistance index was observed in patients treated with ViE-X membrane but it was related to their lower dialysis vintage. Conclusion HDx with Theranova membrane was associated with higher albumin loss without any effect on pre-dialysis serum albumin. Moreover, patients treated Theranova membrane, in the presence lower Qb, lower convective dose and lower instantaneous clearance reached same dialysis efficacy compared to HDF.
Marcello et al. (Wed,) studied this question.