Basile 2001.

Methods	Study design: cross‐over RCT Study time frame: NS Duration of follow‐up: 6 months/phase
Participants	Country: Italy Setting: single centre HD patients aged 18 to 75 years; routine use of EPO with no change in the 3 months preceding enrolment; rHuEPO dosage: < 120 IU/Kg/wk and EPO resistance index, 10 IU/kg/wk of Hb in the 3 months preceding enrolment; assurance from patients not to use EPO during the study; maintenance bicarbonate dialysis thrice‐weekly for at least 6 months previously with a cellulose dialyser; dialysis dosage > 1.2 of equilibrated single‐pool Kt/V; negligible residual renal function; no change in iron, folic acid, vitamin B12 or ACEi in the 3 months preceding the study Mean time on dialysis: 53.2 months Number (eligible/randomised/analysed): 23/15/10 Mean age: 59.9 ± 7.2 years Gender (M/F): 6/4 Exclusion criteria: unstable conditions in the 3 months prior to the study; treatment with drugs affecting erythropoiesis; blood transfusion in the 3 months preceding enrolment
Interventions	Treatment group Thrice weekly AFB with AN69 dialyser Post‐dilution infusion at a rate of 2L/h QB: approximately 300 mL/min QD: approximately 500 mL/min Infusion rate: 2 L/h Duration: 6 months (run‐in period: 4 months) Control group Thrice‐weekly, low‐flux HD with cellulose acetate membrane QB: approximately 300 mL/min QD: approximately 500 mL/min Duration: 6 months (run‐in period: 4 months) Co‐interventions: NS
Outcomes	Kt/V Mortality
Notes	Exclusions post randomisation but pre‐intervention: not stated Stop or end point/s: not stated Additional data requested from authors: method of randomisation; details regarding blinding Funding: not stated
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not stated
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not stated
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Not stated; probably not done
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Not stated; probably not done
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	High risk	33% loss to follow‐up (5/15 patients whose Hb dropped at monthly checks were withdrawn from the study)
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	High risk	Data at the end of first phase of treatment not available
Other bias	High risk	Carry over effect present because of the cross‐over design; data not available for meta‐analysis