Plasma antioxidants modifications during haemodialysis

The high incidence of atherosclerosis (stroke and ischemic heart disease) in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF), associated with clinical and/or laboratory signs of systemic inflammation, has been considered to be in part due to the long-term haemodialysis (HD). The contact with the artificial surface of the extra-corporeal circuit may promote free radicals formation, which is responsible for the increased lipid peroxidation observed in these patients. It has been also demonstrated that they have a decreased intracellular antioxidant capability. To test the presence of oxidative stress and evaluate also the antioxidant status during the dialytic session, we performed a clinical study in a group of functionally anephric patients on maintenance HD treatment with three weekly HD sessions, using a low-flux cellulose diacetate membrane and a freshly prepared bicarbonate buffer.