Complement activation, neutrophil stimulation, increased cellular adhesiveness, transient leukocyte margination and pulmonary
leukostasis take place during
hemodialysis with cellulosic dialysis membranes. Several investigators have hypothesized that complement activation is primarily responsible for the acute
neutropenia occurring during the early phase of bio-incompatible
hemodialysis. We have investigated the relationship between complement activation, levels of expression of CD11b and CD61
integrins on neutrophils and platelets, neutrophil counts and blood gas measurements in patients dialyzed with three types of membranes, known to activate the
complement system to a different extent.
Polysulfone,
cellulose acetate and
cuprophane membranes were used subsequently in six patients in a prospective cross-over trial design to reduce inter-individual variability. Increased levels of CD61 and CD11b, as well as
neutropenia, were detected regardless of the type of membrane used. We observed a high inter-individual variation with regard to complement activation suggesting varying susceptibility to dialysis membranes. We also report that the kinetics of
anaphylatoxin generation were dissociated from those of the upregulation of adhesion molecules, early neutrophil margination and decrease in PaO2 during the first 30 min of
hemodialysis. Similar results were obtained with all three types of dialysis membranes. The data strengthen the hypothesis that factors other than
complement are involved in the induction of dialysis-related
neutropenia and
hypoxemia.