For dialysis to effectively remove a poison, what characteristics must the poison have?

For dialysis to effectively remove a poison, the poison must have a characteristic of water solubility. This is because dialysis relies on the diffusion of solutes across a semipermeable membrane, and water-soluble substances are more easily separated from the blood into the dialysate. Water solubility facilitates the movement of the toxin from areas of higher concentration in the blood to lower concentration in the dialysate, allowing the poison to be effectively eliminated from the body.

Additionally, factors such as low molecular weight are also favorable for dialysis effectiveness. However, in this context, water solubility is crucial because it directly correlates with the ability of the dialysis process to clear toxins from the blood.

In contrast, a high degree of protein binding can hinder dialysis, as only unbound (free) drugs are available for removal. A large volume of distribution may also complicate the clearance of a poison, as the more widely distributed a substance is throughout the body, the less effectively it can be removed through dialysis. Low molecular weight enhances the ability of molecules to pass through the dialysis membrane, but this characteristic alone is not as critical as water solubility for ensuring effective removal during the dialysis process.