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Published on: October 1, 2015

Dialysis-membrane-dependent reduction and adsorption of circulating hepatitis C virus during hemodialysis

Mari Mizuno1, Terumi Higuchi, Mitsuru Yanai

  • 1Department of Pathology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Nephron
|June 8, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Certain dialysis membranes, like polysulfone, can reduce hepatitis C virus (HCV) levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) through adsorption. This membrane-dependent effect offers a transient decrease in HCV viremia during HD treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Virology
  • Biomaterials Science

Background:

  • Chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients frequently have hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a leading cause of chronic liver disease.
  • Observed decreases in serum HCV load post-HD prompted investigation into the underlying mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of different dialysis membrane types on circulating HCV load.
  • To elucidate the in vivo and in vitro effects of dialysis membranes on viral clearance.

Main Methods:

  • Semiquantitative analysis of HCV RNA levels in patient serum and dialyzer membranes using RT-PCR before and after HD.
  • In vitro dialysis and ultrafiltration experiments to assess HCV RNA in different fractions.
  • Comparison of polysulfone (PS), hemophan, cuprophan (CU), and AN69 membranes.

Main Results:

  • Polysulfone and hemophan membranes significantly reduced HCV RNA titers (10(-1)-10(-2) fold) in HD patients.
  • Cuprophan membranes showed no effect, while AN69 had a variable effect on HCV viremia.
  • In vitro studies confirmed HCV adsorption to PS membranes, but not CU membranes, with viral RNA recovered from the membrane itself, not the ultrafiltrate.

Conclusions:

  • Dialysis membranes exhibit a capacity for adsorbing HCV during hemodialysis.
  • This adsorption leads to a temporary reduction in circulating HCV levels in patients.
Abstract

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