Altered whole blood chemiluminescence during hemodialysis using different dialysis membranes

Cellulosic versus synthetic membranes: a reasonable comparison?

Of the two main classes of dialysis membranes, cellulosic and synthetic, the former represents the standard membrane used in dialysis therapy. The disputed properties of cellulosic membranes related to biocompatibility have inspired a number of authors to compare these two membrane classes from a variety of perspectives. However, such a strict categorization as "synthetic" or "cellulosic" is of doubtful value from the point of view of polymer chemistry. Here, biocompatibility and performance properties of these two membrane classes are compared with the aim of investigating the validity of this categorization. The biocompatibility parameters studied are complement and leukocyte activation together with activation of the coagulation cascade. Analysis of a variety of both cellulosic and synthetic membranes with different degrees of biocompatibility showed that biocompatibility can be achieved by both classes of membranes and is, therefore, not a particular property of one class only. Furthermore, performance and beta 2-microglobulin removal properties of the two classes of membranes do not particularly favor one of these classes. Therefore, differences between cellulosic and synthetic membranes are not manifested in parameters like biocompatibility, hydraulic permeability, and overall performance.