Validity of Intermittent Infusion Hemodiafiltration

Abstract

Background: Intermittent infusion hemodiafiltration (I-HDF) has been developed to prevent a rapid drop in blood pressure during a dialysis session and to improve peripheral circulation. In Japan, >10,000 dialysis patients underwent treatment with I-HDF in 2017, and the number of dialysis patients is increasing year by year. I-HDF involves the intermittent infusion of ultrapure dialysis fluid or sterile nonpyrogenic substitution fluid, for example, at a volume of 200 mL and a rate of 150 mL/min by backfiltration every 30 min during treatment. The total infusion volume can therefore be estimated at 200 (mL) × 7 (infusions) or 1.4 L/session. I-HDF may be regarded as online HDF with a very small replacement volume. Summary: Several clinical trials of I-HDF have been conducted in Japan. (1) In a 2007 study, despite there being no differences noted in the volume of water removal between hemodialysis (HD) and I-HDF, a significantly lower rate of reduction in the time-averaged blood volume was seen in I-HDF than in HD, so the plasma refilling rate was greater during I-HDF. (2) In a 2015 study, at 13 weeks after a switch from HD, I-HDF was found to be significantly superior to HD in terms of the incidence of events needing intervention by medical staff. However, significantly lower blood β2-microglobulin (MG) and α1-MG levels were observed in the predilution online HDF (pre-HDF) group than in the I-HDF group, and the amount of albumin leak was lower in the I-HDF group than in the pre-HDF group. (3) In a 2017 study, compared with HD, I-HDF was associated with a reduced number of interventions for intradialytic hypotension and less severe tachycardia, suggesting less sympathetic stimulation during I-HDF. Key messages: I-HDF is a valid treatment option because it is associated with an increased plasma refilling rate and fewer interventions needed by medical staff.