Biocompatibility of haemodialysis membranes

Haemodialysis is widely used as a method of treatment for renal failure; it relies on diffusion across a semipermeable membrane. The exposure of blood to the membrane is associated with a rapid transient fall in white cells, activation of the complement system and a fall in arterial oxygenation. The interrelationship between these phenomena, their dependence on the type of membrane used and their clinical implications are reviewed and discussed.