Introduction to Hemodiafiltration

Concept and Function

Hemodiafiltration is a higher level renal replacement therapy based on hemodialysis. It can remove the middle sized and small sized toxins, while hemodialysis can remove the small sized toxins. So hemodiafiltration combined the advantages of two purification ways and its advantage is removing more large sized and middle sized toxins.  

Effect

1. Hemodiafiltration can remove middle sizes substances effectively, reduce dialysis complication, improve life quality of the patients,  prolong their life and reduce mortality.   

2. It has more stable hemodynamic status and is effective in removing middle sized and small sized uremic toxins. Patients have better toleration. Intolerant symptoms during dialysis such as low blood pressure, headache, nausea, vomiting are much less. It removes middle sized substances such as β2-microglobulin and PTH, which is good for controlling bone disease and improving patients’ oxidation resistance. It increases dehydration, has better biocompatibility, removes inflammatory mediators so as to improve patients’ condition.       

Summary

Hemodiafiltration combines advantages of two purification ways and its advantage is removing more middle size and small sized toxins. With its popularity around the world including China, use of hemodiafiltration is increasing and curing amount is rising. Hemodiafiltration can replace some dialysis gradually because its advantage is obvious, which is removing more toxins, especial middle sized toxins that hemodialysis can’t remove. Middle sized and large sized toxins affect patients long-term survival. This has drawn attention of blood purification field. As long-term complications are closely related to middle sized and large sized toxins, so it is necessary to remove more of them.