| Abstract: | The present report summarizes our previous experience with the effect of various dialyzer membranes on leukocyte count, plasma C3d and C5a/C5ades-Arg, and total hemolytic complement. A relationship between the formation of C5a/C5ades-Arg within the dialyzer and hemodialysis leukopenia was demonstrated by comparing different membranes. Arterial plasma C3d was found to be a useful cumulative marker of complement activation during hemodialysis. C3d was shown to be generated in the artificial kidney with kinetics resembling the formation of C5a/C5ades-Arg. Total hemolytic complement transitorily decreased with all membranes, but did not reflect dialyzer biocompatibility. It is suggested that determination of complement-split C3d outdates previous more elaborate estimates of complement activation during hemodialysis. |
