| [ Summary ] |
Enhanced internal-filtration dialysis which can produce greater convective solute removal than conventional diffusive treatment is promising, as it is performed with a simple and less costly procedure, without the need for replacement fluids. For this modality to be widely used, measurments of the amount of internal filtration would be crucial. Here in we report on a method in which blood flow velocity inside the dialyzer is measured by Doppler ultrasound. We detected pulse waves and measured their mean velocity, from which internal filtration was calculated. We found that the commercially available high-flux dialyzer generates 5l of internal filtration during a 4-hour session. Although this method needs further sophistication, it will serve as a useful tool to develop and evaluate enhanced internal-filtration dialyzers. |