Dialyzer-related Thrombocytopenia due to a Polysulfone Membrane

Intern Med. 2016;55(8):965-8. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.55.5636. Epub 2016 Apr 15.

Abstract

A 72-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis associated with anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody. Hemodialysis (HD) therapy was initiated on the day of admission using a biocompatible polysulfone (PS) membrane. Her platelet count (PLT; ×10(4)/μL) decreased gradually from 58.7 (day 1) to 5.8 (day 25). Considering the possibility of dialyzer-related thrombocytopenia (DRT), we measured her PLT count before and after the HD session on day 72, which revealed a dramatic decrease of 7.5 to 4.3. This finding suggested that the PS dialyzer caused PLT depletion. After discontinuation of the PS dialyzer, DRT was resolved.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Female
  • Glomerulonephritis / therapy
  • Hemorrhage / therapy
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / therapy
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Platelet Count
  • Polymers / adverse effects*
  • Renal Dialysis / adverse effects*
  • Renal Dialysis / methods
  • Sulfones / adverse effects*
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Polymers
  • Sulfones
  • polysulfone P 1700

Supplementary concepts

  • Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with pulmonary hemorrhage