The International journal of artificial organs
-
The aim of this study was to evaluate the residual blood loss in new type single use dialyzers under the usually prevailing conditions during hemodialysis and to investigate whether or not this loss is dependent on dialyzer membrane composition or flux characteristics. ⋯ Blood loss during HD sessions due to residual blood cell volume inside dialyzers is usually slight using new type single use dialyzers but, sometimes, it can be significant and may contribute to the development or deterioration of preexisting iron deficiency anemia. The results of this study indicated that this loss can be attributed to the membrane composition of the dialyzer or to the human factor and has nothing to do with the ultrafiltration coefficient of the dialyzer.