The present study investigated the effect of dialyzer reprocessing on leucocytes and on complement activation in 10 uremic patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis by determing the total & differential leucocytic count and complement 3 level on using new and reprocessed dialyzers, before dialysis, after 20 minutes and at the end of dialysis. The relation between these changes & what is called "first use syndrome" was also studied. The results showed that there was significant granulocytopenia during the initial phase of hemodialysis which was more on sing reprocessed dialyzer. Also the study showed significant complement activation during the initial phase of hemodialysis which was less on using reprocessed dialyzer. This attenuation of complement activation with usage of reprocessed dialyzer was accompanied with disappearance or at least, improvement of the manifestations of "first use syndrome" in hemodialyzed patients. |
