Leukotriene B4 in hemodialysis.

Leukotrienes are eicosanoids arising from arachidonic acid via 5 lipooxygenase, an enzyme essentially present in leukocyte cells. Leukotriene B4 might be an indicator of neutropolymorphonuclear leukocyte activation when there is contact with artificial membranes. The level of plasmatic leukotriene B4 was measured at three different times during the hemodialysis treatment in several patients undergoing dialysis on three different membranes (one cellulosic and two synthetics). A moderate increase of leukotriene B4 was observed early (at 15 min), comparable among the three membranes, but levels returned to baseline at 180 min. Leukotriene B4 production proved leukocyte activation and was probably related to a direct interaction with dialysis membrane. Nevertheless, complement intervention could not be excluded. Leukotriene B4 is one molecule more among the group of inflammatory mediators produced during hemodialysis treatment.