Effects of vitamin E-coated dialysis membranes on anemia, nutrition and dyslipidemia status in hemodialysis patients: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: This was controversial whether vitamin E-coated dialyzer therapy was beneficial for the complications associated with hemodialysis. Therefore, we performed this systematic review to evaluate the effects of vitamin E-coated dialyzer. Methods: Related trials were searched from multiple electronic databases. We conducted meta-analysis to assess changes in the predefined outcomes using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: Meta-analysis showed vitamin E-coated dialyzer therapy could decrease erythropoietin (EPO) resistance index (SMD, −0.24; 95% CI, −0.47 to −0.01; p = 0.04). However, pooled-analysis showed vitamin E-coated dialyzer therapy could not decrease weekly EPO dose (SMD, −0.11; 95% CI, −0.32 to 0.09; p = 0.28) and intima–media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery (MD, −0.09; 95% CI, −0.2 to 0.01; p = 0.09), and vitamin E-coated dialyzer therapy did not improve the serum hemoglobin (MD, −0.03; 95% CI, −0.18 to 0.13; p = 0.74), albumin levels (SMD, −0.64; 95% CI, −1.62 to 0.34; p = 0.2), in addition, there was no significant difference in serum cholesterol (SMD, −0.07; 95% CI, −0.45 to 0.31; p = 0.71), triglycerides (MD, −2.77; 95% CI, −32.42 to 26.87; p = 0.85), high density lipoprotein (HDL) (SMD, 0.24; 95% CI, −0.14 to 0.62; p = 0.22) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) (SMD, 0.00; 95% CI, −0.38 to 0.37; p = 0.98) levels. Conclusions: Vitamin E-coated dialyzer may reduce the EPO resistance, but there is no conclusive evidence that vitamin E-coated dialyzer can improve the renal anemia, malnutrition, dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, high-quality trials with hard clinical endpoints are required to fully elucidate the clinical value of vitamin E-coated dialyzer therapy.

• Dialyzer
• hemodialysis
• meta-analysis
• vitamin E

Declaration of interest

None of the authors is in any condition that may represent a potential conflict of interest.

This study was in part supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (NO. 13JJ3033), and the Scientific and Technological Project of Hunan Province (NO. 2011FJ3217).