Background: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) bioactivity has been reported to be decreased in maintenance haemodialysis patients and this may affect their nutritional status. Clearances of IGF-I and its binding proteins (IGFBPs) during haemodialysis sessions using a high permeability biocompatible membrane are unknown.
Methods: Five well nourished, non-diabetic adult patients were studied during one 4-h morning haemodialysis treatment using the high permeability biocompatible AN-69 dialyser. Blood was collected at the arterial and venous ports of the dialyser at 0, 1, 2 and 4 h of dialysis for haematocrit, plasma IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and insulin measurements. IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and insulin concentrations were adjusted for haemoconcentration before comparisons were made.
Results: At the beginning of the dialysis session, plasma IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and insulin levels were within the normal range (297 +/- 47 ng/ml (mean+/-SEM), 4.3 +/- 0.6 microg/ml and 11.8 +/- 3.4 microIU/ml, respectively). During the session, insulin tended to be cleared through the dialyser, whereas plasma IGF-I and IGFBP-3 values did not vary significantly.
Conclusion: Dialysis with the high permeability AN69 membrane did not alter the main blood compounds of the IGF system in well nourished chronic haemodialysis patients, and it is unlikely that the malnutrition frequently observed in such patients would result from alterations of the IGF system during haemodialysis.