Clinical evaluation of a flat plate dialyzer equipped with a polycarbonate polyether copolymer membrane

The performances and clinical tolerance of a flat plate dialyzer equipped with a polycarbonate polyether copolymer membrane (surface area 1.13 and 0.80 m2, membrane thickness 16 micron) were evaluated in 10 patients, among whom 7 underwent a total of 523 dialysis sessions performed over a 6-month investigation period. Clinical and biological parameters recorded during the study were compared to those observed during an immediately preceding control period during which the same patients were dialyzed with flat plate or hollow fiber Cuprophan dialyzers. The clearances of the 1.13 m2 polycarbonate dialyzer for urea, creatinine, uric acid and inorganic phosphate determined at 36 +/- 14 min after start of the dialysis sessions were found respectively at 132 +/- 23, 103 +/- 22, 120 +/- 23 and 103 +/- 18 ml/min and at significantly higher values (except for uric acid) at the 4th hour of dialysis. The ultrafiltration rate was 490 ml/h for a 100 mm Hg transmembrane pressure and the residual blood volume at the end of dialysis was found at 1.1 +/- 0.3 ml. The main clinical and biological parameters recorded in the 7 patients treated for 6 months with polycarbonate dialyzers were not significantly different from those observed during the preceding control period, although 71% of the polycarbonate dialyzers had a smaller surface area than in those used during the control period. The overall blood leakage rate recorded in 555 polycarbonate dialyzers was 1.08%. No sign or symptom suggestive of clinical intolerance to the polycarbonate membrane was recorded during the entire course of the study.