Hemodialysis method for improving immune system function

An improved method for hemodialysis employing reverse osmosis raises the pH of the blood to preserve the activity of the enzyme lysozyme to improve immune function and reduce the risk of infection in dialysis. In general, this method comprises: (1) removing arterial blood from a patient in need of hemodialysis; (2) increasing the pH of the arterial blood to a value of about 7.8 by adding a sufficient quantity of a 5% solution of sodium chloride buffered to a pH value of 7.9; (3) passing the arterial blood from step (b) through a dialyzer operating by reverse osmosis; (4) adding a pH-reducing agent selected from the group consisting of acetate buffer and dextran sulfate to reduce the pH of the blood to its normal value; (5) passing the blood from step (4) through a dialyzer operating by reverse osmosis to remove antigen; and (6) returning the blood to the patient.