Recombinant human erythropoietin and high flux haemodiafiltration.

Since 1982, 32 uraemic patients were treated in our institution by high flux haemodiafiltration (H-HDF) in order to shorten significantly the dialytic treatment session. H-HDF used a high surface area filter (1.4-1.9 m2) with high hydraulic permeability (polyacrylonitrile and polysulfone), at high blood flow (450 ml/min) and high rates of reinfusion of substitution fluid (22 l/session). In this way the dialytic session was shortened to 140 +/- 19 min, maintaining a good cardiovascular stability and high dialytic efficiency (Kt/V > 1.1). Human recombinant erythropoietin rHuEpo introduced in the therapy of this group in 1987 has resulted in an improvement of renal anaemia, but also a prolongation of the time of dialytic treatment due to a decrease in the efficiency of filters. During the period of the study, the treatment time increased from 140 +/- 19 min to 168 +/- 25 min with a concomitant increase of haematocrit and haemoglobin (from 24% to 36% and from 7.9 to 10.5 g/dl, respectively). H-HDF maintains a noticeable increase in dialytic efficacy with good cardiovascular stability, but the goal of a significant reduction in the time of treatment can no longer be obtained.