Protein loss during isolated ultrafiltration patients with chronic renal failure

Six hypertensive overhydrated maintenance dialysis patients [4 women, 2 men] were treated with isolated ultrafiltration and sequential dialysis for 1 to 3 months. Two to 5.5 liters of fluid were removed each time in 2-4 hours of isolated ultrafiltration. Haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit increased in proportion to the volume of fluid extracted. Serum protein concentration increased to a lesser extent indicating protein loss during ultrafiltration. The ultrafiltrate contained 0.432 +/- 0.084 g/Liter of immunognobulins. The proportion of filtered IgA relative to its plasma concentration was highest and that of IgG lowest, probably due to differences in the shapes of their molecules