Electron microscopy and microprobe analysis of dialysis contaminants

A migration of plastic particles from haemodialysis circuit to blood has been recognized to be cause of storage inflammation. Its origin from segments of silicone tubing has been demonstrated by in vivo and in vitro experiments. A similar finding with a peculiar histology picture has been observed in patients who used only PVC and PU-PVC tubing. In this case too microprobe analysis revealed the presence of silicon (Si) in fibril inclusions of liver and spleen cells. TEM, SEM and EDS of cuprophane dialyzer perfusates filtered through Nuclepore revealed the presence of particles with an intense Si Ka. The release from the dialyzer of silicon containing contaminants seems to be an additional risk for uremic patients.