The influence of hemodialysis membranes on the plasma insulin level of diabetic patients on maintenance hemodialysis

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the alteration in plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) concentrations due to hemodialysis (HD) treatment by using three types of membranes in diabetic HD patients.

Method: We recruited 20 outpatients on maintenance HD with diabetes for this crossover study. HD was performed using membranes made of cellulose triacetate (CTA), polyester-polymer alloy (PEPA), and polysulphone (PS). These membranes were used for 2 weeks (6 HD sessions) in each patient in a randomized order decided by drawing lots. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning and end of the HD session from the blood tubing at the arterial (A) site. At 60 min after the initiation of dialysis, blood samples were obtained from the blood tubing at both the A and venous (V) sites of the dialyzer.

Results: The plasma IRI levels decreased significantly at the sites an hour after initiating HD in all membranes. The clearance of IRI was significantly higher in the case of the PS membrane when compared with the CTA and PEPA membranes.

Conclusions: It was concluded that plasma insulin is cleared by HD, and the rate differs for each membrane. Plasma insulin clearance with the PS membrane is higher than that with the PEPA and CTA membranes.