Efficacy and Safety of Repeated-use Middle Cut Off Membrane Dialyzers on Middle Molecule Uremic Toxin and Inflammatory Cytokine Clearances in Hemodialysis Patients

Study design and population The single - center prospective open-label randomize control trial was conducted in prevalence HD patients at the Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University between January 2024 and March 2024. The inclusion criteria were participants aged 18-80 years old, with adequate HD (spKt/V > 1.2 and 1.8 per session for patients undergoing thrice- and twice-weekly HD, respectively) for more than 3 months, utilizing arteriovenous fistula or graft (AVF or AVG) for vascular access. The exclusion criteria were pregnancy, vascular access dysfunction, contraindicated to reprocess dialyzer (e.g., blood-transmitted infections such as HBV, HIV, and MDR pathogens), advanced-stage cancer or cardiovascular diseases, severe comorbidities with less than a 1-year life expectancy, prior severe infections or hospitalization within 3 months or receiving immunosuppressive drugs, and history of severe dialyzer allergy.

Study Intervention All enrolled 48 participants were randomized to hemodialysis using Theranova 500 dialyzer or Elisio 21HX dialyzer stratified by age, sex, causes of ESRD, dialysis vintage, dialysis sessions per week and type of vascular accesses.Each patient received twice and thrice weekly 4-hour dialysis sessions with their usual prescriptions including blood and dialysate flow rates, dialysate composition, intradialytic coagulant and dry weight. Both groups utilizing the Fresenius 4008H machine for dialysis treatment, with the study concluding when complete of 15th dialysis session or study dialyzer was disqualified for reused adhering to the standard dialyzer reprocessing protocol in Srinagarind hospital. Intradialytic monitoring and treatment of intradialytic complications were performed by trained HD nurses. The ultrapure quality dialysis water defined by total microbial counts < 0.1 CFU/mL and endotoxin concentrations < 0.03 EU/mL was used in both groups. Both study dialyzers underwent disinfection with 2% peracetic acid and reprocessed using an automatic dialyzer reprocessing machine. In cases where abnormalities or blood clots were detected by the automatic machine, trained staff conducted a reassessment and rinsed the dialyzer with reverse osmosis water until the clot dissipated. The dialyzers exhibiting a reduction TCV exceeding 20% or unable to clear blood clots were deemed unsuitable for reprocessing and were disposed.

Data collection and definition of outcomes Baseline characteristics and demographic data, e.g., age, sex, weight, height, body mass index, comorbid diseases, causes of ESKD, physical status, and socioeconomic data were collected from the interview, physical examination, and review of medical records. Baseline laboratory data were collected 2-week prior to the study period. The efficacy of various-size uremic toxins removal including phosphorus, urea, creatinine, homocysteine, PTH, β2-MG, κ-FLC and λ-FLC together with inflammatory markers including IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated by pre- to post-dialysis RRs at 1st, 2nd, 5th, 10th, 15th session of dialysis intervention. The RR was calculated by the following equations according to Bergström and Wehle. Techniques for measurement of serum solute levels composed of molecular absorption spectrometry (for urea and creatinine), immunoturbidimetric assay (for β2-MG and CRP), electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (for IL-6), enzymatic assay (for homocysteine), and latex particle enhance immunoturbidimetric method (for κ-FLC and λ-FLC). Regarding of safety outcomes, data of dialyzer related complications including dialyzer reaction, rupture of dialyzer membranes, and intradialytic dialyzer clot were collected.