Long-Term Safety of "4-Hour" Hemoadsorption Combined with Hemodialysis in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION

Current guidelines recommend limiting hemoadsorption (HA) duration to 2 h during hemodialysis (HD) sessions due to theoretical concerns about adsorbent saturation and clotting risks. This multicenter prospective cohort study evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of a novel "4Hs" protocol (4-h HA-HD with blood flow >250 mL/min).

METHODS

78 maintenance HD patients from four centers underwent 26 weeks of 4Hs therapy. Key outcomes included dialysis adequacy (spKt/V, urea reduction ratio [URR]), uremic toxin (UT) clearance (indoxyl sulfate [IS], p-cresyl sulfate, β2 microglobulin [B2MG]), clotting rates, and adverse events. Statistical comparisons were made against pre-study conventional HA+HD (2-h HA) data using paired t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA.

RESULTS

The 4Hs protocol demonstrated non-inferior safety to conventional HA+HD, with comparable clotting rates (1.79% vs. 1.62%, p = 0.665) and no significant differences in anemia markers or hypoalbuminemia. Dialysis efficacy improved significantly: spKt/V increased by 0.28 (p = 0.012), URR by 1.18% (p = 0.003), and UT reduction rates (IS: 56.17% vs. 40.14%, p < 0.001; pCS: 47.39% vs. 35.91%, p < 0.001; B2MG: 55.82% vs. 48.41%, p < 0.001). Albumin loss remained comparable between protocols (Δ 0.5 g/L, p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Extending HA duration to 4 h with high-flow hemodynamics (Qb >250 mL/min) is safe and enhances toxin clearance without increasing clotting risks. These findings challenge current SOP limitations on HA duration and support protocol optimization in maintenance HD patients.