Medium Cut-Off and High-Flux Membranes on Mineral and Bone Metabolism in Hemodialysis Patients

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Medium Cut-Off Hemodialysis Membrane: A medium cut-off (MCO) hemodialysis membrane used during maintenance hemodialysis treatment. Participants assigned to MCO treatment will receive thrice-weekly hemodialysis according to standard clinical practice. The intervention is intended to enhance the removal of middle-molecular-weight solutes and to evaluate its effects on mineral and bone metabolism biomarkers, including fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and sclerostin, as well as body composition, vascular stiffness, and patient-reported outcomes.

High-Flux Hemodialysis Membrane: A conventional high-flux hemodialysis membrane used during maintenance hemodialysis treatment. Participants assigned to high-flux treatment will receive thrice-weekly hemodialysis according to standard clinical practice. This intervention serves as the comparator for evaluating the effects of medium cut-off membranes on mineral and bone metabolism biomarkers, including fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and sclerostin, as well as body composition, vascular stiffness, and patient-reported outcomes.

Study summary

This study aims to compare the effects of medium cut-off (MCO) and high-flux hemodialysis membranes on mineral and bone metabolism biomarkers in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) is characterized by disturbances in biomarkers such as fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and sclerostin, which are associated with bone turnover, vascular calcification, and adverse clinical outcomes.

This is a single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label, two-sequence, two-period crossover clinical study. Thirty adult patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis will be randomized to receive either MCO membrane treatment followed by high-flux membrane treatment or the reverse sequence, with each treatment period lasting three months.

Serum FGF-23 and sclerostin levels will be measured at baseline, Month 3, and Month 6. Additional assessments will include pulse wave velocity (PWV), body composition monitoring (BCM), handgrip strength, health-related quality of life (KDQOL-36), pruritus severity (UP-Dial), and pain assessment (SF-MPQ). The study will evaluate whether MCO membranes provide additional benefits compared with conventional high-flux membranes regarding CKD-MBD-related biomarkers and patient-centered outcomes.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change in Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF-23) — At baseline (July 2026), Month 3 (October 2026), and Month 6 (January 2027)
  Change in serum fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) concentrations during treatment with medium cut-off and high-flux hemodialysis membranes. Serum FGF-23 levels will be measured using ELISA and compared between treatment periods.
• Change in Serum Sclerostin — At baseline (July 2026), Month 3 (October 2026), and Month 6 (January 2027)
  Change in serum sclerostin concentrations during treatment with medium cut-off and high-flux hemodialysis membranes. Serum sclerostin levels will be measured using ELISA and compared between treatment periods.

Trial sites (1)

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