Serum myoglobin concentrations are elevated in patients with chronic renal failure (CFR). It has been documented that during haemodialysis (HD) using cuprophane dialysers this protein concentration is not decreased. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of HD with a polysulfone dialyser on the serum myoglobin concentration during an HD session. The study group included 25 haemodialysed CRF patients, mean age 44.6+/- 2.5 years. Twenty-five healthy subjects, mean age 49.0 +/- 5.0 years served as controls. Acetate 4-hour HD was performed using F-4 polysulfone dialysers (Fresenius). Myoglobin concentrations were evaluated by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The mean serum myoglobin concentration (313.4 +/- 69.1 ng/ml) in the CRF group was significantly higher than in controls (55.01 +/- 10.0 ng/ml). There were no significant changes in serum myoglobin concentrations during HD using biocompatible, polysulfone dialysers.

Keywords: Myoglobin, haemodialysis, polysulfone dialysers, chronic renal failure