The Effect of Dialyser Membrane Material on Intradialytic Changes in Platelet Count, Platelet Aggregation, Circulating Platelet Aggregates and Antithrombin III

Abstract

Blood surface interaction during hemodialysis leads to impairment of platelet function and decrease in platelet number, which besides heparinization, may cause or exacerbate bleeding in risk patients. Furthermore, antithrombin III has been shown to increase during dialysis, probably due to vascular endothelial injury caused by infusion of activated platelets into the patient. 23 patients were examined during two successive dialyses, using membranes based on regenerated cellulose (RC) and cellulose acetate (CA). In 12 of the patients, platelet aggregation induced by ADP, circulating platelet aggregates and immunological AT III and AT III activity were determined. Irrespective of the membrane used, hemodialysis was associated with deterioration of platelet function, reflected by a decrease in platelet aggregation with return to predialysis values at the end of dialysis. However, the decline in platelet count and the increase in circulating platelet aggregates were membrane dependent, with RC causing greater changes than CA. No changes in threshold concentration of ADP inducing secondary platelet aggregation or in either immunological AT III or AT III activity were seen during dialysis.

Key words:

• antithrombin III
• dialyser membrane
• hemodialysis
• platelet aggregation
• platelet aggregates
• platelet count