Performance characteristics of combined haemodialysis/haemoperfusion system for removal of blood toxins.

The application of high clearance haemodialysis (HD) for removal of small molecules of waste metabolites, has been practised for many years. Haemoperfusion (HP) is capable of effective removal of middle and protein-bound molecules. The combined HD/HP system is thought to give a more effective treatment for patients of renal failure or drug intoxication. This paper discusses the performance characteristics of removal of toxic substances (e.g. paraquat and creatinine), using the combined HD/HP recycled system in two different arrangements (HD-HP and HP-HD). The results demonstrate that for most favourable adsorbing solutes, the HD-HP arrangement gives higher performance whereas, HP-HD arrangement is more suitable and gives more effective detoxication characteristics for unfavourable adsorbing solutes.