Development of anti-N-like antibodies during formaldehyde reuse in spite of adequate predialysis rinsing.

The development of anti-N-like antibodies has been demonstrated with formaldehyde reuse of hemodialyzers. It has been recommended to pursue a postrinsing venous effluent formaldehyde concentration in the range of or below 2 to 10 ppm, in order to prevent the development of these anti-N-like antibodies. In the present study, we evaluated formaldehyde reuse in a population of 50 patients and whether the strict control of predialysis effluent formaldehyde concentration below 2 to 3 ppm could prevent the development of anti-N-like antibodies. Five of 50 patients (10%) became positive 6 to 14 months after the start of formaldehyde reuse, indicating that even a careful control of effluent formaldehyde concentration cannot prevent the occurrence of this abnormality.