Dialysis/hemofiltration in schizophrenia: a journey by night and cloud.

Hypotheses for the etiology of schizophrenia are discussed and related to possible treatments utilizing artificial kidney systems. For hemofiltration particularly, a theoretical framework is presented for treatment planning. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of using rigid diagnostic criteria for patient selection. Results are reported on two "strict" schizophrenic patients after a series of hemofiltration treatments. One patient showed no clinical improvement after seventeen treatments and died subsequently in a mountaineering accident. Though clinical improvement was noted in the second patient (22 treatments in four months), it is unjustifiable to attribute this solely to hemofiltration. Increased family and medical staff attention towards the patient is sufficient explanation for all changes noted in the patient's symptomatology. Chemical analyses so far have failed to detect any endorphins, normal or abnormal, in the hemofiltrates of either the two patients or two normal controls (sensitivity 30 pmol/L).