Aluminium removal with the double chamber technique: paired filtration-dialysis (PFD)

Several dialysis techniques have been used to improve aluminium removal. So far there are no data available using paired filtration-dialysis (PFD). In this study, we evaluated the aluminium removed by PFD in two phases. Bovine plasma with known concentrations of aluminium and desferrioxamine was used in both experiments. In phase I, the aluminium removal was investigated using the PFD system (single pass) in its usual configuration, modifying the order of the convective and diffusive processes, dialysis with high permeability membranes and dialysis with low permeability membranes. During the second phase, the experiment lasted longer using recirculation, and the PFD was compared with conventional dialysis using high permeability membranes. Changes in the PFD configuration did not alter the aluminium removal; the efficiency of PFD for aluminium removal was very close to that of dialysis with high permeability membranes and much greater than with low permeability membranes. The aluminium is removed mainly in the first part of the dialysis. Aluminium mobilization using the double chamber technique (PFD) was efficient and might be of value for those patients with aluminium overload who needs high depurative techniques and are unable to tolerate high-flux techniques.