Are dialysis devices usable as ozone gas-exchangers?

A study aimed to compare the efficiency of the ozone transfer of four hydrophilic dialysis filters, and one hydrophobic gas-exchange device (GED) has been performed. Obviously, the former should be specifically used only for dialysis. Unfortunately, some clinicians incautiously use them as GEDs. It has been shown that: (i) dialysis filters present a wide range of gas-exchange yield (from 0 up to 70%), often related to variability according to the treatment time; (ii) by scanning microscopy, it has been noticed that hollow fibers are somewhat altered by ozone; and (iii) because their constitutive materials may not be ozone-resistant, they may release toxic compounds harmful for the patients. On the contrary, the appropriate GED is ozone-transfer efficient, is ozone-resistant, and is suitable for blood autotransfusion and ozonation.