Complement activation during hemodialysis: laboratory evaluation of hemodialyzers.

A laboratory method that facilitates delineation of the complement-activating characteristics of various dialyzers under defined conditions has been developed. Results obtained by circulating reconstituted human serum through these devices and measuring time-dependent production of both C3a and C5a antigens are entirely consistent with previous clinical observations. For example, the complement-activating potential of dialyzer membranes could be described as high (cuprammonium cellulose), moderate (cellulose acetate), or low (polycarbonate or polyacrylonitrile). Furthermore, these techniques provided the opportunity to identify membrane characteristics that are not readily defined by clinical studies alone. Specifically, membranes that transported and absorbed C5a antigen were readily identified by these methods. Additionally, laboratory evaluation provided the unique ability to define the efficiency of complement activation taking place on the membrane surface. Results of these investigations are compatible with a hypothetical model that not only describes the properties of a typical dialyzer membrane but may be generally applicable to other biomaterials as well.