Variability in Micro-CT Imaging Results to Quantify Dialyzer Clotting

During recent years, different coagulation studies were performed using micro computed tomography (CT) scanning of hemodialyzers post dialysis as a marker for fiber blocking. Each of these studies investigated the impact of either anticoagulation strategy, dialysis strategy, or hemodialyzer type in a cross-over study design in which each patient served as his/her own control.

To date, we still need to answer some remaining questions related to studies using micro CT before we can expand the research and clinical applications to a larger scale:

First, the power of such cross-over studies, with a single session per study arm, depends also partially on the variability over time in the micro CT results within a single patient. While the resolution (25µm) and reproducibility of the micro CT process is established, patients' coagulation status will cause the largest variability in dialyzer outcome among consecutive dialysis sessions, e.g. variation due to infection or vascular access problems. This type of intrapatient variability, quantifying dialyzer outcome with micro CT from comparable but different dialysis sessions, has not yet been studied. Evaluation of the inter- and intra-patient variability of micro CT of dialyzers in chronic hemodialysis patients will inform whether this novel method can be used as an endpoint in future interventional trials of novel anticoagulants.

Second, the micro CT imaging technique, recently paraphrased as the gold standard to quantify clotting, is a very valuable technique in research settings. Clinical practice would profit more from a less burdensome marker of hemodialyzer performance as measured during the dialysis session (not only at the end of a dialysis session). However, none of the available online dialysis machine parameters (i.e., transmembrane pressure, arterial and venous pressure, online clearance monitoring), nor visual scoring of the dialyzer or venous chamber, nor assessment of dialyzer mass post-treatment correlated well with the results of micro CT. Also, the commonly used biochemical parameters only focus on one aspect in the coagulation cascade or/and are not sensitive enough to measure variations in the coagulation system of the patient. As a consequence, they are poorly related to dialyzer outcome as quantified with micro CT. While thrombin generation (TG) is commonly determined in plasma to identify global coagulation phenotype, whole blood TG (WB-TG) tests better mimic physiology by involving also the intrinsic blood cells and platelets, making it a potential biomarker test for coagulation, and this requires investigation.

Third, the previously described studies were all executed at the Ghent University Hospital where dialyzers are prepared for scanning on the spot (i.e., rinsed, dried and stored at 5°C), and with only a short transport time (15min) from the clinic to the micro CT scanner. No hard evidence however exists whether dialyzers, after being prepared for micro CT in a different place, might be transported by flight in e.g. isolated boxes (lasting hours to days). This study will be conducted in collaboration with Regeneron (New York) where a subset of 10 dialyzers will be shipped, imaged using Regeneron's micro CT scanner, and shipped back to Ghent University for repeat imaging.

The main aims of the proposed study are therefore:

1. to determine intrapatient variability of dialyzer fiber blocking as measured by micro CT scanning
2. to investigate whether longer transportation of dialyzers might impact reproducibility of micro CT results by comparing micro CT results between long and short transportation times of dialyzers
3. to determine the anticoagulant effect size of low molecular weight heparin by evaluating the difference in dialyzer fiber patency between full dose and low dose (1/4 dose) low molecular weight heparin treatment, which will inform sample size determination for future interventional studies of other anticoagulants