Clinical Benefit of an Adsorptive Technique for Elderly Long-Term Hemodialysis Patients

With the advancement of technology, a dialysis membrane has been developed to achieve the efficient removal of beta-2 microglobulin (β2MG), which could not be removed with previous hemodialysis (HD) membranes. Recently, there has been an increase in the population of elderly chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with chronic inflammation and malnutrition. The optimal extracorporeal circulation treatment for elderly CKD patients is not certain.

We have reported the clinical advantages, such as improvements in nutritional, inflammatory, and hemodynamic conditions, of the adsorptive HD membrane for elderly HD patients. We have also reported that the use of β2MG adsorption columns improved the symptoms of dialysis-related amyloidosis and the number of bone cysts, which could not be improved by the high-flux hemodialyzer. Both the adsorptive HD membrane and β2MG adsorption columns remove uremic toxins and inflammatory cytokines via adsorption without aggravating the nutritional condition of these patients. Key Messages: We should reconsider the mechanisms of adsorption, in addition to diffusion and convection, in the extracorporeal circulation treatment of elderly HD patients.