ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Please note that you are viewing an archived section from 2019 and some content may be unavailable. To unlock all content for 2019, please visit the archives.

Abstract: FR-PO464

Removal of Middle Molecules Using Medium Cut-Off Membranes in Hemodialysis Mode vs. High-Flux Membranes in Post-Dilutional Online Hemodiafiltration Mode: The REMOC Study

Session Information

Category: Dialysis

  • 701 Dialysis: Hemodialysis and Frequent Dialysis

Authors

  • Kirsch, Alexander H., Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
  • Komericki-Strimitzer, Tanja, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Graz, Austria
  • Rosenkranz, Alexander R., Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
Background

Medium-cut off (MCO) dialyzers were shown to provide better clearance of larger middle molecules compared to high-flux HD and hemodiafiltration (HDF). Whether this results in lower predialysis levels in decreased exposure is not clear.

Methods

In this randomized, open-label, cross over study, 27 HD patients were randomized to either 12 weeks of HD with MCO dialyzers (Theranova 400, Baxter) or online post-dilution HDF with high-flux dialyzers (FxCorDiax 800, Fresenius medical care) using maximally achievable substitution volumes. After 12 weeks, patients were crossed-over to the other treatment modality for 12 weeks. Pre-dialysis serum levels of middle molecules (λ- and κ-free light chains [FLC] were assessed at the beginning and end of each treatment period. The primary outcome was efficiency as assessed by predialysis treatment levels of λ- and κ-FLC, as well as safety (serum albumin levels and frequency of adverse events).
A mixed linear model based on the delta value to baseline was used to compare the effect of MCO-HD and HDF on FLC levels. Here, treatment modality and randomization order were assumed as fixed effects, the patient as random effect.

Results

Twenty-seven patients were randomized, six dropped out doe to unability to receive randomized study treatment. Twenty-one patients completed the study and were included in the analysis (14 [66.7%] males; mean age 56.9±14.9 years; mean BMI 28.2±7.4; median dialysis vintage 16 [8-40] months).
For κ- and λ-FLC, the delta to baseline after 12 weeks of MCO-HD compared to HDF (κ: -0.8±52.3 vs. -8.0±61.0 mg/dL; λ-FLC: 4.2±24.1 vs. -4.2±26.6 mg/dL) was not significantly influenced by treatment modality or order (κ-FLC: p=0.29; λ: p=0.37) but rather by the patient (κ-FLC: p=0.004; λ-FLC: p=0.02). There was no difference in AE incidence or delta serum albumin levels (MCO-HD vs. HDF: 0.0±0.2 vs 0.0±0.3 g/dL) between treatment modalities.

Conclusion

Twelve weeks of MCO-HD treatment compared to twelve weeks of HDF did not signifantly change pre-dialysis levels of κ- and λ-FLC in prevalent dialysis patients. This suggests that MCO-HD clears larger middle molecules as effectively as high-efficiency HDF, which may allow to extend the benefits of HDF to patients and areas where this treament modality is not available.