Easy production of sterile, pyrogen-free dialysate

Hemodialysis (HD) hypotension is frequently encountered during conventional acetate HD. Recently it has been suggested that monocytes that adhere to the dialysis membrane are also stimulated by endotoxins diffusing from the dialysate side. Stimulated monocytes, however, release interleukin-1, which mediates fever and hypotension through its action on the cyclo-oxygenase cascade. To prevent this endotoxin-induced stimulation of monocytes, a hemofilter with a polyamide membrane (FH 88, Gambro, Lund, Sweden, cut-off 20,000 daltons, surface area 2.0 m2) was interposed between the dialysate outlet of the HD machine and the dialyzer. The data obtained clearly show that the filtered dialysate was always pyrogen-free when tested with a limulus-amebocyte-lysate assay. In addition, in 80% of cases no bacteria were detected after the sterilizing filter. Almost no febrile episodes were observed when sterile dialysate was used.