What is the primary mechanism by which toxins are cleared from the blood in dialysis?

The primary mechanism by which toxins are cleared from the blood during dialysis is through filtration in a machine. In dialysis, blood is drawn from the body and passed through a dialyzer, which acts as an artificial kidney. The dialyzer contains a semi-permeable membrane that allows small molecules, such as toxins and waste products, to pass through while retaining larger molecules like proteins and blood cells. This process effectively removes urea, creatinine, and other harmful substances that accumulate in the bloodstream when kidneys are not functioning effectively.

In contrast, absorption by the body’s tissues involves uptake of substances into cells or tissues, which is not a function of dialysis. Oxidation in the lungs pertains to metabolic processes that do not directly relate to the removal of toxins from the bloodstream, and conjugation in the liver refers to the metabolic processes that modify substances for elimination, primarily through urine or bile but not directly through dialysis. Thus, filtration through a machine is the definitive and primary method of toxin clearance in dialysis.