Transdermal dialysis ???

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Leo Freeman - 26 Apr 2007 00:19 GMT

Does anyone know whether it may be possible to use the skin itself as
a dialysis membrane? Could urea and other blood toxins be somehow
coaxed out from the skin capillaries by osmosis, perhaps by soaking
the patient in a hot bath?

Thank you,

Leo

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Jeff - 26 Apr 2007 00:58 GMT

> Does anyone know whether it may be possible to use the skin itself as
> a dialysis membrane? Could urea and other blood toxins be somehow
> coaxed out from the skin capillaries by osmosis, perhaps by soaking
> the patient in a hot bath?

When people sweat, the sweat contains all the small molecules of the blood
plasma, like sodium, potassium, and urea. It is an ultrafiltrate of the
blood. But, it has about 1% the concentration in urine. So you're going to
have to make someone really sweat to markedly reduce the amount of waste
products in the blood.

Jeff

> Thank you,
>
> Leo

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Jason - 26 Apr 2007 01:11 GMT

> Does anyone know whether it may be possible to use the skin itself as
> a dialysis membrane? Could urea and other blood toxins be somehow
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Leo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leo,
I am not a doctor. I read a book related to kidney disease that was
written by a medical doctor. Based on the information in that book, it
would not be possible to use the skin itself as a dialysis membrame.
Jason
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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