Abstract:

BACKGROUND: High-flux membrane is characterized as high permeability and solute transport properties. During dialysis, many solutes with relative large molecular weight transport from the blood into the dialysis fluid, called as high-flux dialysis, which is an efficient blood purification treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the application of high-flux membranes in hemodialysis.
METHODS: A computer based search of VIP database was performed to retrieve articles published from 2000-02 to 2008-10 using keywords of “high-flux dialysis membrane; hemodialysis; clinical application”. The inclusive criteria were as follows: application of high-flux dialysis membranes in hemodialysis; materials-related clinical research. Repetitive or old articles were excluded. Finally, 12 papers were included.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the low-flux one, the high-flux dialysis can clear β2-microglobulin, lower blood lipids, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone levels, reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial changes in dialysis patients. It cannot affect the levels of plasma cell factors and endotoxin in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. In the remove of urea nitrogen and creatinine, the high-flux dialysis is also superior to conventional dialysis. Therefore, the high-flux dialysis can prevent long-term complications, such as renal osteodystrophy and atherosclerosis, improve loss of appetite and high blood pressure symptoms, and increase the adequacy of dialysis.