Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol.49, No.3, 1359-1369, 2010
Middle-Molecule Uremic Toxin Removal via Hemodialysis Augmented with an Immunosorbent Packed Bed
Outcomes for hemodialysis patients are disappointing. Middle molecules too large to cross dialysis membranes, such as parathyroid hormone (PTH), accumulate in the blood and are implicated in a complex collection of symptoms known its the uremic syndrome. We report our investigation into file removal of middle molecules by adding an immunosorptive packed bed, known as a hemoperfuser, to hemodialysis. We established in vitro that PTH call be reduced to normal levels within a typical dialysis session. We then developed a mathematical model of a combined hemodialysis-hemoperfusion system integrated with it patient pharmacokinetics model. We validated the model in vitro and then scaled up it up to clinical practice. We predict that immunosorptive hemoperfusion call reduce PTH levels to the normal range within the clinical scenario as well. However, we also predict that, because of the high synthesis rate of PTH in vivo, the toxin concentration might recover so rapidly as to limit the effectiveness of added immunosorption.