On the Temporal Evolution of Key Hemofilter Parameters-In Vitro Study under Co-Current Flow

Effective permeability K , the ultrafiltration coefficient (K ), the sieving coefficient (SC), and the loss/permeation of proteins (primarily albumin) are key parameters/specifications characterizing hemofilter (HF) performance. However, there are uncertainties regarding their determination. This wo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Membranes (Basel) 2024-09, Vol.14 (9), p.200
Main Authors: Karabelas, Anastasios J, Moschona, Alexandra, Merenidis, Konstantinos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Albumin
albumin losses
Albumins
Blood
Blood plasma
Blood pressure
Chronic kidney failure
co-current flow
Dialysate
Evolution
Fluctuations
Fluid flow
Fluids
Fouling
hemocatharsis parameters
Hemodialysis
Membrane processes
Membranes
Parameters
Permeability
Permeation
Plasma
Proteins
sieving coefficient
Toxins
Ultrafiltration
ultrafiltration coefficient
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Summary:Effective permeability K , the ultrafiltration coefficient (K ), the sieving coefficient (SC), and the loss/permeation of proteins (primarily albumin) are key parameters/specifications characterizing hemofilter (HF) performance. However, there are uncertainties regarding their determination. This work aims (a) to demonstrate that the co-current flow (of blood and dialysate) can lead to beneficial unidirectional filtration (from blood/plasma to dialysate) under a fairly uniform local trans-membrane pressure (TMP), unlike the presently employed counter-current flow; (b) to study the temporal evolution of key HF performance parameters under co-current flow, particularly during the important early stage of hemocatharsis (HC). Experiments with human plasma and BSA solutions in co-current flow mode (for which a fluid mechanical model is developed) show a fairly uniform local/axial TMP, which also improves the local/axial uniformity of protein membrane fouling, particularly under (currently favored) high convective flux operation. Due to incipient membrane fouling, a significant temporal variability/decline in the effective K is observed, and, in turn, of other parameters (i.e., the Kuf, SC, and permeation/mass flux M for albumin and total proteins). A satisfactory correlation of the albumin/protein mass flux M with permeability K is obtained, indicating strong inter-dependence. In conclusion, co-current flow, allowing for a fair local TMP axial uniformity, enables the acquisition of accurate/representative data on the evolution of HF parameters, facilitating their interpretation and correlation. The new results provide a basis for exploring the clinical application of the co-current flow.
ISSN:2077-0375
2077-0375
DOI:10.3390/membranes14090200