High-flux and low-flux dialysis membranes and levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in children with chronic kidney failure.

Introduction: During hemodialysis, the expression of different adhesion molecules changes, thus serving as markers of biocompatibility of dialysis membranes. Our aim was to investigate whether low-flux and high-flux dialysis membranes have different effects on the concentration of adhesion molecules and their association with leukocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 80 pediatric patients on hemodialysis. Baseline levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were measured. The patients were classified into 2 groups to use either low-flux filters or high-flux filters for 3 months. At the end of the 3 months, predialysis samples were obtained for measurement of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, TNF-alpha and interleukin-1. Post-dialysis samples were collected for measurement of CBC, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, TNF-alpha, and interleukin-1. Forty volunteers were involved as a control group.

Results: Both TNF- ? and IL-1 were higher in the patients compared to the control group (P < .001). Compared to the control group, there was a significant increase in ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 (P < .001) in both groups predialysis and postdialysis. The postdialysis increments of ICAM-1 with the high-flux membranes were significantly less compared to the low-flux membranes (P < .001). Serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 significantly correlated with TNF-? and interleukin-1 in all groups.

Conclusions: The postdialysis increments of the adhesion molecules are due to the effect of dialysis membranes, which is less with the use of high-flux filters.