Hemodialysis with cuprophane membranes leads to alteration of granulocyte oxidative metabolism and leukocyte sequestion in the lung

Hemophan versus hemophan--a philippic against the suggestion of constant membrane quality

All statements referring to biocompatibility of dialyzers depend on the suggestion of a constant and reproducible structure of the investigated membrane material. The data presented here strike this concepts in case of hemophane. Two commercially available hemophane dialyzers, the GF MC 120 (Gambro) and the MO 450 (SMAD) membranes, were compared. Significant differences could be seen in the induction of leukopenia and leukocyte sequestration reaction within patients lungs, but also in capacity to influence granulocyte oxidative metabolism and release of granular enzymes. According to these data it seems questionable whether hemophane is a membrane material with constant structure and quality normally expected for products bearing trade names. Excluding other differences (like surface-area or sterilization method) variable amounts of DEAE substituents and/or an inconstant distribution of the DEAE groups within the membranes may be the most possible reason responsible for the differences found. The study underlines the urgent need of an exact physico-chemical characterization of dialyzer membranes and is therefore a challenge for free publication of such basic data by the producers.