Potential Benefits of Hemodiafiltration vs. Traditional Dialysis
Understanding In-Center Dialysis Treatment Options
At the point a person reaches kidney failure, also called end stage renal disease (ESRD), a kidney transplant or dialysis is necessary to stay alive. Dialysis can take the place of some kidney function to filter waste, toxins, and excess fluids from your blood. This can help you feel better and stay healthier.
Today, people who choose in-center dialysis have more than one option to consider. Hemodiafiltration (HDF) is an advanced treatment that combines traditional hemodialysis with an additional filtration process, called hemofiltration. Traditional hemodialysis is widely known and most commonly prescribed to people on in-center dialysis. HDF is a newer treatment offering that cleans your blood better, so you can feel better. Understanding the differences between HDF and traditional hemodialysis can help you and your doctor decide which is right for you.
What Is Traditional Hemodialysis?
Traditional Hemodialysis (HD) filters your blood through a dialyzer using a dialysis machine. You'll be connected to the dialysis machine via your hemodialysis access. Your blood is then filtered outside of your body through a dialyzer or "artificial kidney" to remove unwanted waste, toxins, and excess fluid. The clean, chemically balanced blood is then returned to your body.
Dialysis, including HD, doesn't fully replace natural kidney function, so middle sized particle toxins and excess fluid can still be a problem impacting your health and how you feel day to day.
What Is Hemodiafiltration (HDF)?
HDF is an advanced dialysis method that combines traditional hemodialysis with hemofiltration which offers an additional filtration process. Together, these functions remove more waste, toxins, and excess fluid.
Unlike traditional hemodialysis, HDF is effective in removing both small and medium-sized particle toxins. Once you are connected to the dialysis machine through your dialysis access:
- Your blood passes through a semi-permeable membrane called a dialyzer, just as it does with HD. This removes small particle toxins by diffusion.
- During hemofiltration, your blood also goes through a convection process as it passes through the dialyzer. Pressure is added to push your blood through the dialyzer removing more middle-sized particle toxins and excess fluid.
- Substitution fluid is used throughout the HDF treatment to help maintain fluid balance.
HDF is the optimal in-center treatment. Because it cleans your blood better, you may have more energy. So, you may feel better right after treatment and beyond.
Traditional Hemodialysis vs Hemodiafiltration: Key Differences
| What to consider | Traditional Hemodialysis (HD) | Hemodiafiltration (HDF) |
| Method | Diffusion | Diffusion + convection |
| Fluid removal | Efficient | Even more efficient |
| Toxin removal | Small molecules | Small + medium molecules |
| Outcomes | Takes the place of some kidney function and can help prolong life. | Can help to prolong life by cleaning your blood better than traditional HD, helping people feel better and stay healthier |
Benefits of Hemodiafiltration
- More energy
- Less recovery time after treatment
- Better sleep
- Longer life
- Less mental decline
- Improved overall health
These benefits may make HDF a good option for people who aren't able to do home dialysis and who won't feel their best on in-center. Your doctor can help you understand if HDF is right for you.
What's a typical treatment schedule for Hemodiafiltration?
Can HDF have a positive effect on my blood pressure?
Who should consider Hemodiafiltration?
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Hemodiafiltration
- If HDF could help support your goals for treatment
- Whether you have the best dialysis access for HDF
- How HDF may be different from your current treatment
- How you can expect to feel after starting HDF
- Ways HDF may improve your overall health
Considerations for choosing HDF
Suggested topics
What’s the Difference between Home Peritoneal Dialysis and Home Hemodialysis?
Can Dialysis Be Temporary?
Choosing a Dialysis Treatment Option
When your kidneys fail, your body needs a new way to continue filtering your blood and taking care of other kidney-related functions. This is typically accomplished in one of two ways...