Effect of Different Hemodialysis Methods on Microbiota in Uremic Patients

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of hemodialysis on microbiota in uremic patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hemodialysis on microbiota in uremic patients. METHODS: This study included 85 adult patients who have received hemodialysis since August 2014, and the treatment plan has not changed for more than 12 months. These patients were divided into hemodialysis group (group A), hemodialysis+hemodialysis filtration group (group B), and hemodialysis+hemodialysis filtration+blood perfusion group (group C). Twenty-four adult ESRD patients (CK group) were enrolled. Serum biochemical indexes were measured, glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) was estimated, dialysis adequacy (kt/V) was calculated, and fresh feces were collected. At the same time, the feces of 30 health workers were selected as the control. 16S rRNA sequence was used to determine the intestinal flora of all fecal specimens. First of all, we analyzed the difference of the whole flora distribution between dialysis and nondialysis ESRD patients; then, we selected the most representative content of bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis to analyze the influence of different blood purification methods on the intestinal flora. RESULTS: (1) The level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in dialysis patients was lower than that in nondialysis ESRD patients, and CRP in group C was lower than that in groups A and B. There was no significant difference in kt/V between group A, group B, and group C. There was no significant difference in EGFR between the four groups. (2) The species diversity of ESRD patients without dialysis (CK group) was significantly lower than that of ESRD patients with dialysis; there was no significant difference between group A and group B; the species diversity of group C was significantly higher than that of group A and group B. (3) Compared with the control group, the levels of bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus acidophilus in ESRD patients were significantly lower, while the levels of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis were significantly higher. (4) The levels of bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus acidophilus in hemodialysis patients were significantly higher than those in nonblood purification treatment group, and the levels of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis were significantly lower than those in nonblood purification treatment group. (5) The level of Lactobacillus acidophilus in group C was significantly higher than that in groups A and B, and the level of Escherichia coli was significantly lower than that in groups A and B. CONCLUSION: ESRD patients have microbiota disorder. Hemodialysis can improve microbiota disorder in uremic patients. Compared with ordinary hemodialysis, combined hemoperfusion dialysis can further improve microbiota disorder.