Bovine and porcine heparins: different drugs with similar effects on human haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Heparins from porcine and bovine intestinal mucosa differ in their structure and also in their effects on coagulation, thrombosis and bleeding. However, they are used as undistinguishable drugs. METHODS: We compared bovine and porcine intestinal heparin administered to patients undergoing a particular protocol of haemodialysis. We compared plasma concentrations of these two drugs and also evaluated how they affect patients and the dialyzer used. RESULTS: Compared with porcine heparin, bovine heparin achieved only 76% of the maximum plasma concentration as IU mL⁻¹. This observation is consistent with the activities observed in the respective pharmaceutical preparations. When the plasma concentrations were expressed on weight basis, bovine heparin achieved a maximum concentration 1.5 fold higher than porcine heparin. The reduced anticoagulant activity and higher concentration, on weight basis, achieved in the plasma of patients under dialysis using bovine instead of porcine heparin did not affect significantly the patients or the dialyzer used. The heparin dose is still in a range, which confers security and safety to the patients. DISCUSSION: Despite no apparent difference between bovine and porcine intestinal heparins in the haemodialysis practice, these two types of heparins should be used as distinct drugs due to their differences in structure and biological effects. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced anticoagulant activity achieved in the plasma of patients under dialysis using bovine instead of porcine heparin did not affect significantly the patients or the dialyzer.

Prospective evaluation of an in-center daily hemodialysis program: results of two years of treatment.

Short duration daily hemodialysis (DHD) emerges as a well-tolerated alternative to standard hemodialysis (SHD). In this prospective study 5 patients in SHD were recruited to participate in an in-center DHD program. The SHD consisted of 3 sessions of 4 h each per week. Nonproportional mixture machines without an ultrafiltration control device and low flow dialyzers were used. For DHD, dialysis equipment and procedures were kept the same. Dialysis sessions, however, began at 6 p.m. (from Monday to Saturday) and lasted 2 h. Data from the last 6 months on SHD of the same patients were compared with the ones from each semester on DHD. Bone biopsy was performed at start and at the end of the 2-year study period. Hypotensive episodes, hypertensive crisis, cramps and headaches became 7-10 times less frequent in daily dialysis. A significant fractional increase ( approximately 12%) was seen in mean values for hematocrit. Predialysis urea levels as well as predialysis creatinine levels declined significantly. Also lower during the daily dialysis period were the mean values for both phosphorus and CaxP product. Significant increases were found in serum bicarbonate, albumin and in dry weight. The frequency of mean blood pressure >/=110 mm Hg on arrival for dialysis was significantly lower in every semester on daily hemodialysis. A significant twofold improvement in quality of life scoring was observed. Finally, daily hemodialysis also seemed to be beneficial to low turnover bone disease and bone aluminum deposition. These beneficial effects occurred despite of an increase in the frequency of missing days. Results from the present study which prospectively addressed the role of in-center short daily hemodialysis in the management of ESRD are encouraging.