MULTICENTRIC STUDY ON PAIRED FILTRATION DIALYSIS AS A SHORT HIGHLY EFFICIENT DIALYSIS TECHNIQUE

The PFD is a hemodiafiltration technique where ultrafiltration and dialysis are carried out in two separate chambers, thereby avoiding the negative interference which exists when convection and diffusion are carried out together. High efficiency purification is achieved using this technique and this allows the dialysis time to be shortened. We studied a population of 35 patients from different centres treated with PFD over one year and evaluated the efficiency, clinical tolerance and possible complications of the technique. The patients were divided into two groups according to their body weight, interdialytic weight gain and quality of the vascular access. Group A (n = 18) had 3 weekly sessions lasting 180 mins; in group B (n = 18) the sessions lasted 150 mins. The following were used in both groups: an SG-3 (Sorin) filter, 0.5 sqm polisulphone filter for convection and 1.4 sqm filter of hemophan as dialyser. The volume of UF was 12% of the body weight plus the interdialytic body weight gain. The composition of the reinfusion solution varied accordingly. The Kt/V was = 1.0 and the PCR > 1.1 g/kg/day in all patients. All the analytic parameters measured, including the B-2-M, remained stable. The tolerance to treatment was good and even improved over time in both groups. There were no changes in the cardiovascular parameters measured by echocardiography. The nerve conduction velocity improved in both groups, particularly in group B (p > 0.05). There were no clinical or technical complications. Therefore, we conclude that PFD is an efficient form of dialysis treatment, which allows the dialysis time to be shortened and present excellent clinical tolerance.