Physiological transport parameters in the patient-artificial kidney system

Clinical evidence is mounting which confirms the contention that intermediate "middle" molecular weight molecules may be more important as uremic toxins than low molecular weight metabolites. The removal of these "middle" molecules via hemodialysis depends upon three factors: the rate at which the metabolite can be transported from the intracellular spaces to the interstitial fluid (transcellular); the rate at which solute can be transported to the blood plasma (transcapillary); and the efficiency of the hemodialyzer. However, at the present time only sparse experimental data is available describing physiological mass transfer of utility to hemodialysis. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to define the physiological mass transfer-molecular weight spectra for the patient-artificial kidney system.