Hemodialysis-induced increase in serum lactoferrin and serum eosinophil cationic protein as signs of local neutrophil and eosinophil degranulation.

Transient reduction in circulating polymorphonuclear granulocytes and eosinophils were observed early in hemodialysis. About a threefold increase in serum-lactoferrin occurred 2 h from the start of hemodialysis. Increments of the serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were observed as early as 1 h after initiation of hemodialysis, reaching maximum levels (about a fourfold increase from initial levels) 1 h later. When fresh blood was circulated through a dialyzer without having a patient in the circuit considerable increases of lactoferrin and ECP were also found. The intracellular contents of lactoferrin and ECP in granulocytes isolated from peripheral blood were unaffected throughout the dialysis period. Sera obtained at different times during dialysis induced no release of granular proteins from isolated granulocytes in vitro. The raised serum concentrations of lactoferrin and ECP during dialysis suggest that a local degranulation of neutrophils and eosinophils may take place probably in the dialyzer.