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Particle migration from haemodialysis circuit: electron microscopy and microprobe analysis
S Caiazza1, A Giangrande, P Cantù
1Department of Ultrastructures, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Biomaterials, Artificial Cells, and Artificial Organs
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Silicone particles from dialysis tubing can cause inflammation in patients. This study found silicon-containing contaminants leaching from dialyzers, posing an additional risk to patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Biomaterials Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Inflammation in uremic patients is linked to silicone particles from hemodialysis tubing.
- Foreign material storage, including silicon (Si), has been observed in long-term dialysis patients using PVC or PU-PVC tubing.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the origin and nature of particulate contaminants in hemodialysis patients.
- Determine if dialyzers contribute to silicon-containing material release.
Main Methods:
- In vivo and in vitro analysis of bioptical samples.
- Analysis of cuprophan dialyzer and PVC tubing eluates.
- Utilized Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and microprobe Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS).
Main Results:
- TEM, SEM, and EDS confirmed the presence of variously shaped Si-containing material and particles in bioptical samples and eluates.
- Si-containing contaminants were absent in eluates filtered without the dialyzer.
Conclusions:
- Dialyzers can leach Si-containing products, representing an additional risk for uremic patients.
- The findings suggest dialyzer components as a source of iatrogenic foreign material in hemodialysis.