Haemodialysis in dogs with a heparin coated hollow fibre dialyser.

Haemodialysis was performed in non-uraemic dogs with equipment coated with a stable heparin. During a three hour dialysis a constant blood flow of 205 ml/min was easily maintained. There was no increase in whole blood coagulation time and no heparin release from the surface. The platelet count was initially reduced by 15 per cent, but remained constant at this value throughout the dialysis. No increase in FPA concentration was detected. Heparin coating on inherently thrombogenic materials enables haemodialysis in the absence of systemic anticoagulation and without measurable activation of the haemostatic mechanism.