The correction of anemia in dialysis patients with erythropoietin (EPO) can be frustrated by insufficient iron. To address this effect, we preloaded candidate EPO patients with intravenous iron in the early 1990s. Preloading with 900-1,525 mg of iron yielded the following results: 70% of patients had increasing hematocrits (HCTs) without EPO, and 40% of patients had HCTs greater than 30%. Appar...

A three-dimensional finite volume model of the blood-dialysate interface over the complete length of the dialyzer was developed. Different equations govern dialyzer flow and pressure distribution (Navier-Stokes) and radial transport (Darcy). Blood was modeled as a non-Newtonian fluid with a viscosity varying in radial and axial direction determined by the local hematocrit, the diameter of the c...

Hemodialysis involves large, periodic treatment doses using large-area membranes. If the permeability of dialysis membranes could be increased, it would reduce the necessary dialyzer size and could enable a wearable device that administers a continuous, low dose treatment of chronic kidney disease. This paper explores the application of ultrathin silicon membranes to this purpose, by way of ana...

The transport of citric acid through an anion-exchange membrane Neosepta-AMH in a two-compartment continuous dialyzer has been investigated. The basic data obtained were completed by the measurement of the sorption isotherm. Mass transfer rate has been quantified by diffusivity of citric acid in the membrane, which has been determined from the acid concentrations in the streams entering and lea...

OBJECTIVES Residual renal function (RRF) is of paramount importance to dialysis adequacy, morbidity, and mortality, particularly for long-term continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Residual renal function seems to be better preserved in patients on CAPD than in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We analyzed RRF in 45 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), commencing either ...