Pilot Randomised Controlled Study Comparing The Effect of High Cut-off Point Haemofiltration With Standard Haemofiltration In Patients With Acute Renal Failure

During acute renal failure, small and middle molecular-weight toxins accumulate. These molecules are difficult to remove by standard haemofiltration. Accordingly, they accumulate and contribute to morbidity in long-term dialysis patients. Molecules such as cytokines have been shown to play a central pathogenic role in critical illness. In critically ill acute renal failure patients, they accumulate in serum and likely contribute to much morbidity (fever, low blood pressure, myocardial dysfunction, renal failure itself etc.) Therefore, the removal of cytokines appears desirable. Although different approaches have been undertaken, all have had limited success due to complexity, limited efficacy or uncertain clinical response [10-15].

It is possible that in using a different and more porous membrane, the removal of cytokines would be much more efficient and that clinical benefits of blood purification would, therefore, be greater.

A membrane of this kind is now available. It is a modification (moderate increase in pore size) of another standard material called polyamide, which has already been used in millions of people for dialysis and haemofiltration. The increased pore size of these new membranes is directed at a more effective removal of middle molecular-weight toxins such as cytokines.