Long-term use of vitamin E-coated polysulfone membrane reduces oxidative stress markers in haemodialysis patients

Background. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and an independent predictor of overall mortality and cardiovascular outcome in haemodialysis (HD) patients. In the present study, we compared the effects of a vitamin E-coated polysulfone membrane (PSE) and a non-vitamin E-coated polysulfone membrane (PS) on oxidative stress markers such as ADMA. Methods. Thirty-one HD patients were enrolled to this investigation. They were allocated into two groups: in the PSE group (n = 16), PSE was used for 6 months, followed by PS for an additional 12 months; in the PS group (n = 15), PS was used for the entire observation period. Plasma ADMA, oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) and malondialdehyde LDL (MDA-LDL) levels were measured at baseline, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. Plasma ADMA in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and in healthy individuals was also measured. Results. Predialysis concentrations of ADMA (0.72± 0.13 nmol/ml) were significantly higher in the HD group than in both PD patients (0.63±0.10 nmol/ml, P