Acute effect of hemodialysis with polyacrylonitrile membrane on nerve conduction velocities

Non cellulosic membranes, as polyacrylonitrile (AN69) improves middle-molecules purification through hemodialysis, and this increased clearance of middle-molecules may have benefical effects on uremic polyneuropathy. We have tried to evaluate this effect comparing nerve conduction velocities before and after hemodialysis with either AN69 or cellulose acetate (CA).

Eight patients in hemodialysis with AN69 for more than three months (4 men and 4 women, mean age 58.4 +/- 12.9 years, mean time in hemodialysis 9.3 +/- 7.5 months). Motor conduction velocities (MCV) and sensory conduction velocities (SCV) were measured predialysis and postdialysis with AN69 and, one week later, predialysis and postdialysis with CA.

There were no differences neither in Kt/V values (AN69 1.27 +/- 0.36 vs CA 1.16 +/- 0.26) nor in TAC ones (AN69 40.8 +/- 17.4 vs CA 40.8 +/- 21.3 mg/dL). After hemodialysis with AN69 MCV significantly increased (42.0 +/- 3.0 vs 40.6 +/- 2.6 m/s baseline, p < 0.05). SCV was also enhanced (45.3 +/- 2.2 vs 41.1 +/- 3.4 m/s baseline, p < 0.05). After hemodialysis with CA neither MCV changed (42.7 +/- 1.6 vs 42.0 +/- 2.3 m/s baseline), nor did SCV (45.8 +/- 5.8 vs 44.8 +/- 3.0 m/s baseline).

Hemodialysis with AN69 acutely improved SCV and MCV. This effect was not seen with CA hemodialysis.