Free oxygen species metabolism during haemodialysis with different membranes.

In 10 chronic uraemic patients free oxygen species metabolism was evaluated during the early period of haemodialysis with cuprophane, polyacrylonitrile and polysulphone membranes. Cuprophane haemodialysis was found to induce an increased generation of superoxide anion by both unstimulated and opsonised-zymosan-stimulated peripheral blood phagocytes, which was accompanied by a significant depression of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity and augmented erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation. Haemodialysis with polyacrylonitrile membrane did not induce significant changes in superoxide anion generation, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity, and erythrocyte and plasma malonyldialdehyde concentrations. The same was found with polysulphone membrane, except for plasma malonyldialdehyde, the concentration of which was significantly decreased. Our results suggest that use of polyacrylonitrile or polysulphone membranes for haemodialysis seems to be beneficial with regard to free oxygen radical metabolism.