Commencement Of Dialysis Research Articles

Observation of changes in model-based insulin sensitivity during haemodialysis transitions for critically ill patients

Most critically ill patients exhibit a myriad of symptoms with irregular glycaemic regulation and renal failure contributing to a large proportion of mortality and morbidity. Hence, the effect of dialysis on glycaemic regulation should be of interest to clinicians as it is a common therapy addressing renal failure. In this investigation, we measure transient changes in model-based insulin sensitivity during the commencement and end of dialysis periods in 51 critically ill patients with acute renal failure (ARF). The clinically validated model-based insulin sensitivity (SI) metric is a lumped parameter, which, in this case, can account for variance in insulin pharmacokinetics and production, as well as the efficiency of insulin mediated glucose uptake. Apparent SI is expected to be higher during renal failure as insulin will not be cleared as fast as the model assumed. Thus, it is hypothesized given model assumptions on steady, population levels of renal insulin clearance, that dialysis will cause a drop in model-based SI, and vice versa. This study is the first to investigate the effect of dialysis on insulin action of critically ill patients. This investigation found a significant reduction in model-based SI after the commencement of dialysis, but an insignificant change when dialysis was stopped. As dialysis was considered to have little effect on true insulin sensitivity and the effect on insulin production would have been contrary to the observed behavior, it was concluded that commencing dialysis had a significant effect in increasing insulin clearance over the cohort. This effect was not reciprocated immediately following dialysis due to a slower return to complete renal failure following treatment.

Ankle-Brachial Index Is a Powerful Predictor of Renal Outcome and Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Ankle-brachial index (ABI) is an accurate tool to diagnose peripheral arterial disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether ABI is also a good predictor of renal outcome and cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We enrolled 436 patients with stage 3–5 CKD who had not been undergoing dialysis. Patients were stratified into two groups according to the ABI value with a cut point of 0.9. The composite renal outcome, including doubling of serum creatinine level and commencement of dialysis, and the incidence of cardiovascular events were compared between the two groups. After a median follow-up period of 13 months, the lower ABI group had a poorer composite renal outcome (OR = 2.719, P = 0.015) and a higher incidence of cardiovascular events (OR = 3.260, P = 0.001). Our findings illustrated that ABI is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular events and renal outcome in patients with CKD.

Echocardiographic parameters are independently associated with rate of renal function decline and progression to dialysis in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Cardiac abnormalities were frequently noted in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study is designed to assess whether echocardiographic parameters are associated with rate of renal function decline and progression to dialysis in CKD stage 3 to 5 patients. This longitudinal study enrolled 415 patients. The renal end point was defined as commencement of dialysis. The change in renal function was measured by estimated GFR (eGFR) slope. Progression to dialysis was predicted by wide pulse pressure, low albumin, low hemoglobin, high calcium-phosphorous product, proteinuria, diuretics use, and concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (hazard ratio, 2.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00 to 4.10; P = 0.05). The eGFR slope was negatively associated with total cholesterol, uric acid, proteinuria, diuretics use, and left atrial (LA) diameter (change in slope, -0.50; 95% CI, -0.89 to -0.11; P = 0.01) and positively associated with albumin and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (change in slope, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.08; P < 0.001). Our study in patients of CKD stage 3 to 5 demonstrated that concentric LVH was associated with progression to dialysis, and that increased LA diameter and decreased LVEF were associated with faster renal function decline. Echocardiography may help identify high-risk groups with progressive decline in renal function to dialysis and rapid progression of renal dysfunction in CKD stage 3 to 5 patients.

Effect of Dialysis Modality on Survival of Hepatitis C-Infected ESRF Patients

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients. Despite a lower incidence and risk of transmission of HCV infection with peritoneal dialysis (PD), the optimal dialysis modality for HCV-infected ESRF patients is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of dialysis modality on the survival of HCV-infected ESRF patients. The study included all adult incident ESRF patients in Australia and New Zealand who commenced dialysis between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 2008, and were HCV antibody-positive at the time of dialysis commencement. Time to all-cause mortality was compared between hemodialysis (HD) and PD according to modality assignment at day 90, using Cox proportional hazards model analysis. A total of 424 HCV-infected ESRF patients commenced dialysis during the study period and survived for at least 90 days (PD n = 134; HD n = 290). Mortality rates were comparable between PD and HD in the first year (10.7 versus 13.8 deaths per 100 patient-years, respectively; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.65, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.26) and thereafter (20 versus 15.9 deaths per 100 patient-years, respectively; HR 1.27, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.88). The survival of HCV-infected ESRF patients is comparable between PD and HD.

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and rate of renal function decline and mortality in chronic kidney disease.

Increased arterial stiffness was reported to be associated with decreased estimated GFR (eGFR). Previous studies suggested that arterial stiffness might play a role in renal function progression in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was an independent association between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a marker of arterial stiffness, and renal function progression in CKD patients. This longitudinal study enrolled 145 patients with CKD stages 3 to 5. The baPWV was measured by using an ABI-form device. The change in renal function was estimated by eGFR slope. The study endpoints were defined as commencement of dialysis or death. After a stepwise multivariate analysis, the eGFR slope was positively associated with baseline eGFR and negatively associated with hypertension and baPWV (β=-0.165, P=0.033). Seventeen patients entering dialysis, and eight deaths were recorded. Multivariate forward Cox regression analysis identified that higher baPWV (hazard ratio, 1.001; P=0.001), lower baseline eGFR, and higher serum phosphate level were independently associated with progression to commencement of dialysis or death. Our results show an independent association between baPWV and renal function decline and progression to commencement of dialysis or death in patients with CKD. Screening CKD patients by means of baPWV may help identify a high-risk group of rapid renal function decline and progression to commencing dialysis or death.

Mammary steal: a case report in bypass grafting in a hemodialysis patient

A dialysis dependant lady with previous mitral valve replacement presented with angina after coronary angioplasty and stenting. She needed coronary artery bypass grafting with a left internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending artery and a vein graft to the right coronary artery. On commencement of dialysis with a left brachial arteriovenous fistula she started having angina. Repeat angiography revealed patent grafts. A diagnosis of mammary ‘steal’ from the graft was made. A changed dialysis regime has improved symptoms. We would like to reignite the debate on judicious use of mammary grafts in dialysis dependant patients.

慢性腎臓病 (CKD) における腎性貧血管理の現況

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are frequently complicated by renal anemia as renal function declines. However, clinical guidelines on erythrocyte stimulating agents (erythropoietin : EPO) for such patients have not been established. Current clinical practice for EPO administration is based on the recommendations of the Japanese health insurance regulations, which have not always been supported by clinical evidence. The study subjects were 49 patients with CKD staged above 3 who had developed renal anemia requiring EPO. These patients were treated with EPO S. C. at the dose of 6,000 IU/week together with iron supplementation as deemed necessary for more than 24 weeks. The hemoglobin (Hb) value was 9.2 +/- 1.0 g/dL at the start, 10.9 +/- 1.6 g/dL at the peak (n = 49, p < 0.001 the start vs. the peak), and 9.0 +/- 1.6 g/dL at the commencement of dialysis (n = 49, p < 0.001 the peak vs. the commencement of dialysis). Seventy-one percent (35/49) of the patients achieved Hb levels over 10 g/dL, and 51% (25/49) achieved Hb levels over 11 g/dL. Conversely, 28% (14/49) of the patients failed to reach an Hb level over 10 g/dL. Factors explaining the good response to EPO (good responders were defined as those achieving Hb levels over 11 g/dL) had shown high Hb levels at the start (Logistic multiple regression analysis, p = 0.03) along with low creatinine concentration at the start (Cox's proportional hazard models, p = 0.015). Transferrin saturation (TSAT) at the start was 33.6 +/- 13.6%, 34.0 +/- 19.9% at the peak, and 24.7 +/- 11.6% at the commencement of dialysis, showing a significant reduction in TSAT at the commencement of dialysis compared to that at the start (n = 49, p = 0.0383, the start vs. the commencement of dialysis). Serum ferritin concentration was 140.7 +/- 139.5 pg/mL at the start, 107.9 +/- 110.8 pg/mL at the peak, and 131.9 +/- 112.4 pg/mL at the commencement of dialysis, indicating an absence of significant differences among the three time points. The current health insurance regulations in Japan seem to be inappropriate in that the permitted EPO dosage of 6,000 IU/week might not be sufficient to achieve the target Hb level of more than 11 g/dL in most patients with CKD. To more efficiently achieve renoprotection, both early and timely initiation of EPO and reconsideration of the recommended EPO dosage appear to be warranted.

Ischaemic stroke in incident dialysis patients

Despite the high frequency of cardiovascular disease among the population on dialysis, there are few studies on ischaemic stroke and associated factors. The objective of the present study is to assess the prevalence of ischaemic stroke at the start of dialysis, its incidence in the course of follow-up and possible factors associated in its presentation. All patients in our dialysis programme between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2005 were included in the study and followed up until death, transplant, transfer out of our catchment area, or conclusion of the study on 31 December 2008. Factors analysed were age, gender, smoking habit, diabetes, hypertension, previous ischaemic stroke, ischaemic coronary disease, peripheral vascular disease and atrial fibrillation. Other factors measured in the first month of dialysis were haematocrit, urea, creatinine, lipids, calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone and albumin. Of 449 patients included in the study (age 64.4 ± 16 years), 30 commenced dialysis having had previous stroke (prevalence 6.7%). In a follow-up of 38.77 ± 29 months, 34 patients presented with one or more strokes; an incidence of 2.41/100 patient-years. Greater age [odds ratio (OR): 1.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.09; P = 0.007], diabetes (OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.15-4.55; P = 0.018) and presence of atrial fibrillation (OR: 3.11; 95% CI: 1.53-6.32; P = 0.002) were independent predictors of stroke occurrence. Conclusions. The prevalence of ischaemic stroke is high at the commencement of dialysis, and its incidence is elevated in the course of follow-up. As with the general population, atrial fibrillation is an important factor predictive of ischaemic stroke, and as such, the clinical implication is that prophylactic anti-coagulation therapy needs to be considered for these individuals.

Coagulase-negative staphylococcal peritonitis in Australian peritoneal dialysis patients: predictors, treatment and outcomes in 936 cases

Coagulase-negative staphylococcal (CNS) peritonitis is the most common cause of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis. Previous reports of this important condition have been sparse and generally limited to single-centre studies. The frequency, predictors, treatment and clinical outcomes of CNS peritonitis were examined by multivariate logistic regression and multilevel Poisson regression in all adult PD patients in Australia between 2003 and 2006. A total of 936 episodes of CNS peritonitis (constituting 26% of all peritonitis episodes) occurred in 620 individuals. The observed rate of CNS peritonitis was 0.16 episodes per patient-year. Lower rates of CNS peritonitis were independently predicted by Asian racial origin (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.52; 95% CI, 0.35-0.79), renovascular nephrosclerosis (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.18-0.86), early referral to a renal unit prior to dialysis commencement (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.19-0.79) and treatment with automated PD at any time during the PD career (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66-0.96). The majority of CNS peritonitis episodes were initially treated with intraperitoneal vancomycin or cephazolin in combination with gentamicin. This regimen was changed in 533 (57%) individuals after a median period of 3 days, most commonly to vancomycin monotherapy. The median total antibiotic course duration was 14 days. Compared with other forms of peritonitis, CNS episodes were significantly more likely to be cured by antibiotics alone (76 vs 64%, P < 0.001) and less likely to be complicated by hospitalization (61 vs 73%, P < 0.001), catheter removal (10 vs 26%, P < 0.001), temporary haemodialysis (2 vs 5%, P < 0.001), permanent haemodialysis transfer (9 vs 21%, P < 0.001) and death (1.0 vs 2.7%, P = 0.002). CNS peritonitis was also associated with a shorter duration of hospitalization, a longer time to catheter removal and a shorter duration of temporary haemodialysis. Catheter removal and permanent haemodialysis transfer were independently predicted by polymicrobial peritonitis and initial empiric administration of vancomycin (compared with cephalosporins). CNS peritonitis was associated with a higher relapse rate (17 vs 13%, P = 0.003) and relapsed CNS peritonitis was associated with a higher catheter removal rate (22 vs 7%, P < 0.001). Repeat peritonitis occurred in 194 (31%) individuals and the highest risk was in the second month after completion of antibiotic treatment for CNS peritonitis (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.39-2.51 compared with >2 months). CNS peritonitis is a common complication with a relatively benign outcome compared with other forms of PD-associated peritonitis. Relapsed and repeat peritonitis are relatively common and are associated with worse outcomes.

Review article: Hepatitis B and dialysis

The incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in dialysis populations has declined over recent decades, largely because of improvements in infection control and widespread implementation of HBV vaccination. Regardless, outbreaks of infection continue to occur in dialysis units, and prevalence rates remain unacceptably high. For a variety of reasons, dialysis patients are at increased risk of acquiring HBV. They also demonstrate different disease manifestations compared with healthy individuals and are more likely to progress to chronic carriage. This paper will review the epidemiology, modes of transmission and diagnosis of HBV in this population. Prevention and treatment will be discussed, with a specific focus on strategies to improve vaccination response, new therapeutic options and selection of patients for therapy.

Is mycophenolate mofetil superior to pulse intravenous cyclophosphamide for induction therapy of proliferative lupus nephritis in Egyptian patients?

Recent studies have suggested that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) may offer advantages over intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVC) for the treatment of lupus nephritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of MMF compared with IVC in the induction therapy of proliferative lupus nephritis. We randomly assigned 47 patients with newly diagnosed active proliferative lupus nephritis class III or IV to open-label oral MMF 2 g/day for 6 months or intravenous cyclophosphamide 0.5-1 g/m(2) monthly for 6 months in addition to corticosteroids. In the intention-to-treat analysis, 14 of the 24 patients (58.33%) receiving MMF and 12 of the 23 patients receiving cyclophosphamide (52.17%) had remission (P = 0.48); complete remission occurred in 6 of the 24 patients (25%) and 5 of the 23 patients (21.74%), respectively (P = 0.53). Improvements in packed cell volume, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies titer (anti-dsDNA), serum complement, proteinuria, urinary activity, renal function, serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha concentration and the systemic lupus activity measure score were similar in both groups. Two patients assigned to MMF and another patient assigned to IVC developed end-stage renal failure with commencement of dialysis. Adverse events were similar. Major infections occurred in two patients in each group. There was no difference in gastrointestinal side effects, but more diarrhea occurred in those receiving MMF. In this 24-week trial, MMF or IVC combined with corticosteroids demonstrated equal efficacy in inducing remission of proliferative lupus nephritis.

Factors affecting hemodialysis patients' satisfaction with their dialysis therapy.

Aim. To assess the degree of satisfaction among hemodialysis patients and the factors influencing this satisfaction. Methods. Patients were recruited from 3 Saudi dialysis centers. Demographic data was collected. Using 1 to 10 Likert scale, the patients were asked to rate the overall satisfaction with, and the overall impact of, their dialysis therapy on their lives and to rate the effect of the dialysis therapy on 15 qualities of life domains. Results. 322 patients were recruited (72.6% of the total eligible patients). The mean age was 51.7 years (±15.4); 58% have been on dialysis for >3 years. The mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 3.2 (±2), and Kt/V was 1.3 (±0.44). The mean satisfaction score was (7.41 ± 2.75) and the mean score of the impact of the dialysis on the patients' lives was 5.32 ± 2.55. Male patients reported worse effect of dialysis on family life, social life, energy, and appetite. Longer period since the commencement of dialysis was associated with adverse effect on finances and energy. Lower level of education was associated with worse dialysis effect on stress, overall health, sexual life, hobbies, and exercise ability. Conclusion. The level of satisfaction is affected by gender, duration on dialysis, educational level, and standard of care given.

Survival and transplantation in end-stage renal disease: a prospective study of a multiethnic population

Accurate assessment of determinants of patient survival in end-stage renal disease is important for counselling, clinical management and resource planning. To address this we have analysed survival and risk factors for survival for patients treated for end-stage renal disease in a multi-ethnic UK population. A multicentre prospective observational cohort study was performed in four teaching hospital renal units serving a total population of four million people. A total of 884 consecutive patients treated with renal replacement therapy were studied. Cox proportional hazard modelling and adjusted survival curves were used to assess the impact of a range of variables on patients surviving dialysis for more than 90 days. Further analysis was undertaken to determine the likelihood of transplantation in different ethnic groups. Survival was 29% after a mean and median follow up of 4.6 and 4.2 years, respectively. Factors associated with worse survival included the following: age; for each decade of life the relative risk (RR) of death was 1.52 (95% confidence intervals 1.41-1.65, p < 0.0001); comorbidity, one or two comorbid conditions, RR = 1.56 (95% CI 1.24-1.95, p < 0.001) and three or more comorbid conditions, RR = 2.34 (1.68-3.27, p < 0.001). Factors associated with better survival included the following: south-Asian ethnicity, RR = 0.6 (0.46-0.80, p < 0.001); renal transplantation, RR = 0.20 (95% CI 0.11-0.59, p < 0.0001) and glomerulonephritis as the primary renal disease, RR = 0.70 (0.50-0.97, p = 0.04). Factors associated with likelihood of transplantion were having a functioning fistula/peritoneal dialysis catheter at start of dialysis (RR 1.91, 95% CI 1.24-2.94, p = 0.003) and glomerulonephritis (RR 9.54, 95% CI 2.43-37.64, p = 0.001). Patients were less likely to receive if they were black (RR 0.10, 95% CI 0.02-0.34, p < 0.001), South Asian (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.97, p = 0.037), diabetic (RR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.23, p < 0.001) and had one or two comorbid conditions (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.82, p = 0.06). Every decade increase in age was also associated with a lesser likelihood of transplantation (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.49-0.61, p < 0.001). Discussion. Risk stratification at commencement of chronic dialysis may predict long-term survival in different patient groups. As expected ethnic minorities are less likely to receive a transplant and this should be addressed by the new waiting list prioritization. The better survival on dialysis in this population of patients with south-Asian ethnicity is unexplained and this requires further investigation.

VASCULAR CALCIFICATION IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: A CLINICAL REVIEW

Vascular calcification, which is associated with arterial stiffness, is now known to be an important predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with renal disease. This calcification starts developing in the early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is present in over 50% of patients at the time of dialysis commencement. Once calcification is present it continues to progress, though some medications have been shown to slow this progression. Vascular calcification and bone abnormalities are now both encompassed by the term of CKD-mineral bone disorder and are thought to be part of the same disease process in CKD. Vascular calcification and arterial stiffness have been extensively researched in the renal population and many factors are known to be associated with their presence and progression. This calcification is an important factor to be considered in the management of the renal patient but there are different methods available for its measurement. These details will be discussed further in this review along with evidence available for management of this important complication of renal disease.

Optimal Referral to Pre-Dialysis Services: One Center's Experience

The number of patients receiving renal replacement therapy in the United Kingdom is rapidly rising. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem with significant comorbidity and mortality. Several organizational guidelines have been developed in an attempt to identify when appropriate referral to nephrology services should occur; however, many of these guidelines provide conflicting recommendations on referral. Recent surveys suggest that more than 30% of patients with CKD are referred later than the ideal. Late referral of patients with CKD is associated with increased patient morbidity and mortality, increased need for and duration of hospital admission, and increased initial costs of care following commencement of dialysis. Benefits of early referral include the identification and treatment of reversible causes of renal impairment and management of the multiple co-existing conditions associated with CKD. Referral time also affects the choice of modality of treatment. Patients and their families should receive sufficient information regarding the nature of their CKD and options for treatment so that they can make informed decisions concerning their care. Literature addressing the timing of referral to low-clearance or pre-dialysis clinics is limited. Existing data suggest that such clinics and patient education programs may improve the medical care of patients, promote greater patient involvement in the selection of the mode of dialysis, reduce the need for "urgent start" dialysis, and improve short-term survival and quality of life after initiation of dialysis. Audit of our pre-dialysis clinic has demonstrated improved patient outcomes, and we view this service as an essential component of the patient pathway.

Optimal Referral is Early Referral

The number of patients receiving renal replacement therapy in the United Kingdom is rapidly rising. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem with significant comorbidity and mortality. Several organizational guidelines have been developed in an attempt to identify when appropriate referral to nephrology services should occur; however, many of these guidelines provide conflicting recommendations on referral. Recent surveys suggest that more than 30% of patients with CKD are referred later than is ideal. Late referral of patients with CKD is associated with increased patient morbidity and mortality, increased need for and duration of hospital admission, and increased initial costs of care following commencement of dialysis. Additional benefits of early referral include identifying and treating reversible causes of renal impairment and managing the multiple coexisting conditions associated with CKD. Referral time also affects the choice of treatment modality. Patients and their families should receive sufficient information regarding the nature of their CKD and the options for treatment so that they can make informed decisions concerning their care. Literature addressing when to refer to low-clearance or pre-dialysis clinics is limited. Existing data suggest that such clinics and patient education programs may facilitate improved medical care for patients, greater patient involvement in selection of the mode of dialysis, reduction in the need for "urgent start" dialysis, and improved short-term survival and quality of life after initiation of dialysis. Audit of our pre-dialysis clinic has demonstrated improved patient outcomes, and we view the early-referral service as an essential component of the patient pathway.

SAPS 3 at dialysis commencement is predictive of hospital mortality in patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and acute dialysis☆

This study examined the association between hospital mortality and five illness-severity scoring systems evaluated at different time points in the intensive care unit (ICU) as well as clinical variables as predictors in critically ill patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and acute dialysis. This multicenter prospective observational study included 104 patients who received ECMO support and acute dialysis from January 2002 to December 2006. Patients' demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed as predictors of survival. The SAPS 2, APACHE II, SOFA, MODS, and SAPS 3 scores upon ICU admission and at acute dialysis commencement were evaluated to predict the patient's hospital mortality. Hospital mortality for the study group was 76% (79/104). Among the five scoring systems, only SAPS 3 score showed a significant difference between survivors and non-survivors either upon ICU admission (p=0.038) or at dialysis commencement (p=0.001). SAPS 3 score at dialysis commencement showed the best discrimination ability by using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (SOFA, 0.55; SAPS 2, 0.56; MODS, 0.58; APACHE II, 0.59; and SAPS 3, 0.73). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that SAPS 3 score at dialysis commencement (OR: 1.070, 95% CI: 1.016-1.216) and IABP usage before ECMO (OR: 4.181, 95% CI: 1.448-12.075) were two independent risk factors for hospital mortality. Among five common ICU scoring systems evaluated at different time points, SAPS 3 at dialysis commencement is the best risk adjustment systems to predict hospital mortality in critically ill patients supported by ECMO and acute dialysis. Furthermore, the SAPS 3 score at dialysis commencement and IABP usage before ECMO are two major independent predictors for hospital mortality in patients supported by ECMO and acute dialysis.

Preparing Patients for Peritoneal Dialysis

When told of their need for dialysis, patients often cannot accept it and are fearful toward dialysis. Pre-dialysis counseling programs help patients to face dialysis, to make the right choice of dialysis modality, and to prepare themselves for life on dialysis. Clear explanations of peritoneal dialysis (PD) help patients choosing PD. Patients should be referred to pre-dialysis programs at least 4 - 6 months before commencement of dialysis or when their glomerular filtration rate is around 15 mL/min/1.73 m(2). The pre-dialysis program is best conducted by experienced staff such as renal nurses and multidisciplinary staff including nephrologists, dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, or even dialysis patient representatives depending on availability. The program should be designed according to the culture, settings, staff availability, and patient load in individual hospitals. Pre-dialysis home visits may be needed in some cases to assess suitability and prepare the home for PD.

Breath ethane peaks during a single haemodialysis session and is associated with time on dialysis

There is growing evidence that oxidative stress is increased in haemodialysis patients and that dialysis per se is a contributory factor. The elevated oxidant stress, a result of increased production of reactive oxidant species (ROS), may be due to increased pro-inflammatory activity and reduced antioxidant mechanisms. ROS are transitory molecules and therefore surrogate markers of oxidant damage are required. Identification of potential causes of oxidative damage such as dialyser membranes or dialysate has been proposed and therefore assessment of oxidative damage during a single dialysis session would be of interest. We have used breath ethane, a widely accepted marker of oxidative stress, to investigate the cause and extent of the resulting oxidative damage during single dialysis sessions. Our study involved assessment of breath ethane levels during haemodialysis in an end-stage renal failure haemodialysis population (n = 24). Breath samples were collected using discrete sampling techniques and were subsequently analysed using laser spectroscopy. Each patient adopted the role of longitudinal control in this study and his or her breath ethane level was monitored regularly during the dialysis session. Significant breath ethane elevation was observed at the beginning (within the first 10 min) of each dialysis session. This paper provides an in-depth statistical analysis and clinical discussion of the recent findings. A regression analysis of the collected breath ethane data showed a trend towards increased ethane levels for patients on dialysis for a shorter duration of time (r = 0.656, R-Sq = 43.3%, p = 0.001). Multiple linear regression was undertaken to further assess these associations and revealed that peak ethane levels were significantly and independently associated with time period on dialysis (p < 0.000), vascular access (p = 0.013) and male sex (p = 0.005). However, whilst diabetes status had demonstrated a correlation with peak ethane levels (0.525, p = 0.008) this was not independent of vascular access status. This multivariate linear model was significantly associated with Ln peak ethane levels (S = 0.744, R-Sq = 80.8%). The observed rapid rise in oxidative stress during the first few minutes after commencement of dialysis gives new insight into the dynamics of the oxidative damage resulting from dialysis treatment.

Removal of iron dextran (Cosmofer®) during hemodialysis

SUMMARYIntravenous iron dextran is widely used in hemodialysis patients receiving erythropoietin (EPO) therapy because of its significant convenience in clinical practice. However, the amount of iron removed by hemodialysis in vivo is unknown. The purpose of this study was to measure the removal of iron dextran in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Six patients were enrolled in this study. All were stable patients treated by hemodialysis for at least 1 month. Both F6 (polysulphone membrane) and GFSplus12 (hemophane membrane) dialyzers were used sequentially in each patient. Each patient received 2 mL of low‐molecular‐weight iron dextran (Cosmofer® aktieselskab/aksjeselskap and supplied by Zhuhai Schwarz Pharma Company Ltd) intravenously, containing 100 mg of elemental iron, administered during the second hour of dialysis over 30 to 60 minutes. A baseline sample of fresh dialysate was collected before the commencement of dialysis. A control sample of spent dialysate was collected during the first hour of dialysis, before the infusion of low‐molecular‐weight iron dextran. Then, all spent dialysate after the iron dextran infusion until the end of dialysis was collected. The samples were treated with lanthanum nitrate solution, and the iron content was measured using an atomic‐absorptive spectrum method. The iron concentration in the control group was 4.31 ± 2.55 µg/L. After the infusion of iron dextran, the iron concentration in the spent dialysate increased significantly, irrespective of whether an F6 or GFSplus12 dialyzer was used. However, the amount of iron eliminated through the dialyzer was minimal, less than 3% of the infusion dose. There was no significant difference in removal of iron through either the F6 or GFSplus12 dialyzer. These results indicate that the removal of iron dextran by hemodialysis when using either a polysulfphone or hemophane membrane dialyzer is negligible. It is time‐efficient and convenient to administer low‐molecular‐weight iron dextran during hemodialysis.