Haemodialysis without heparin.

Despite the use of heparin, activation of platelets on the artificial surface of dialyser membranes results in thrombus formation, microembolisation and thrombocytopenia. To assess the effects on these events of prostacyclin, three groups of healthy greyhounds were dialysed with heparin, heparin plus prostacyclin or prostacyclin alone. The use of prostacyclin, either alone or with heparin, abolished microembolisation from the dialyser and prevented thrombbocytopenia. With prostacyclin dialysis could be carried out without heparin and there was no clotting of blood within the extracorporeal circuit nor any change in tests of haemostasis.