Dialyzer Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Possible Role of Allergy to Ethylene Oxide

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Cases (4) of dialyzer hypersensitivity reactions and the previously reported cases are reviewed. Dialyzer hypersensitivity syndrome presents as an acute anaphylactoid reaction, the symptoms of which may range from mild to life threatening in severity. The cause of this syndrome is unknown, but affected patients appear to have a high incidence of positive radioallergosorbent tests to a conjugate of human serum albumin and ethylene oxide, suggesting that ethylene oxide, a substance used to dry sterilize artificial kidneys, may be an offending allergen.