Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the clearance of ceftriaxone during haemodialysis is influenced by the type of membrane used (cuprophane, haemophane or polysulphone).
Methods: After administration of a single 2-g dose of ceftriaxone, the half-life of the drug during haemodialysis and the clearance of the dialyser were measured.
Results: The mean dialysis clearance normalised for square metre of membrane surface was significantly different for the three dialysers (haemophane 24 ml.min-1.m-2; cuprophane 32 ml.min-1.m-2; polysulphone 42 ml.min-1.m-2).
Conclusions: Polysulphone membranes are more permeable and increase the extraction of ceftriaxone more than the other dialysers studied (haemophane and cuprophane membranes). These results, taken together with previous data, show that an increase of the dose in dialysis patients treated with large surface (> 0.8 m2) and high permeability membranes might be necessary.