Immunomodulatory Biomimetic Device to Treat Myocardial Stunning in End-stage Renal Disease Patients

Hemodialysis is a therapy that filters waste, removes extra fluid and balances electrolytes. In hemodialysis, blood is removed from the body and filtered through a man-made membrane called a dialyzer, and then the filtered blood is returned to the body. Hemodialysis is associated with injury to the heart muscle called myocardial stunning. This may occur for many reasons, including removal of fluid during dialysis or low blood pressure. Initial ischemia and subsequent white blood cell infiltration into the injured myocardium play a critical role in the degree of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. In this study an additional man made membrane (selective cytopheretic device) and tubing will be added to the dialysis circuit. The device shifts the circulating white blood cells pool to a less inflammatory phenotype. Researchers believe the selective cytopheretic device will alter the phenotype of circulating white blood cells which play a role in myocardial stunning. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the selective cytopheretic device will reduce myocardial stunning events in hemodialysis patients. It will also report the rate of adverse events.