[Proceedings: Plasma hemoglobin in patients with intermittent hemodialysis with special reference to various dialysis procedures].

In the pathogenesis of anemia in patients on intermittent hemodialysis is a frequently mentioned factor. To evaluate the red blood cell trauma caused by the hemodialyser, free hemoglobin was determined in the plasma before and after various types of hemodialysis. We investigated 22 patients with chronic renal failure in the age range from 18 to 54 years who were hemodialysed with various types of shunt (Cimino, Scribner or Thomas shunt) and hemodialysers (Kiil or Rhone-Poulenc). Determinations of hemoglobin in the plasma before and after 8-h hemodialysis were performed by the method of RICHTERICH. A significant increase in the initial normal values for hemoglobin in the plasma were found, but without any correlation between rate of hemolysis and type of hemodialyser. The presumed mechanical destruction of erythrocytes during hemodialysis can be determined by the free hemoglobin in the plasma. The small extent of intravascular hemolysis does not correlate with the type of hemodialyser.