Alterations of clotting factors and platelets during hemofiltration

The influence of hemofiltration on the number of platelets and on coagulation factors was investigated in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. These investigations were done on 12 patients during 22 treatments with hemofiltration. Blood samples were taken before hemofiltration, 10, 30 and 120 minutes after the beginning of the treatment and at the end of hemofiltration. In comparison to the original values we found a loss of platelets, a small decrease in the concentration of fibrinogen and a small increase in the fibrin monomer complex, plasminogen, antithrombin III, alpha1-antitrypsin and in alpha2-macroglobulin. The thrombin time, the partial thromboplastin time and Quick's test showed that the blood of these patients contained sufficient hepatin. Use of fibrin plates (Astrup) showed no signs of fibrinolytic activity. Compared to the results, which were obtained some years ago during hemodialysis, we found a smaller extent of alterations of blood coagulation factors and number of platelets.