Complication In Hemodialysis Patients Research Articles

Friction injury of the central vein caused by catheter for hemodialysis: an in vitro study

Vascular injury such as central venous stenosis (CVS) is a common complication in hemodialysis patients with central venous catheters (CVCs), yet the impact of the microstructure and partial physic characteristics of catheter surface on the chronic injury of central vein has not been elucidated. In this study, the microscopic morphology of tips and bodies of six different brands of polyurethane CVCs was observed and their roughness was assessed. Subsequently, an in vitro model was established to measure the coefficients of friction (COF) between CVCs (tips and bodies) and the vena cava intima of Japanese rabbits under the same condition in a linear reciprocating mode, and changes in the intima of vessels after friction were observed. The study found that there was a significant variation in surface roughness among different brands of CVCs (tips P < 0.001, bodies P = 0.02), and the COF was positively correlated with the catheter surface roughness (tips P = 0.005, R = 0.945, bodies P = 0.01, R = 0.909). Besides, the endovascular roughness increased after friction. These findings suggest that the high roughness surface of CVCs may cause chronic mechanical friction injury to the central venous intima, which is one of the potential factors leading to CVS or occlusion. This provides a breakthrough for reducing complications, improving patient prognosis, and advancing catheter surface lubrication technology.

Effect of two different techniques of arteriovenous fistula puncture on wound infection in haemodialysis patients.

Safe and effective arteriovenous fistula (AVF) puncture is very important to reduce the wound complications of haemodialysis (HD). For AVF puncture in dialysis patients, there is a lack of clarity and consistency regarding the relative advantage of buttonhole (BH) over rope-ladder (RL) cannulae in terms of wound complications. The study was published in several scientific databases including Cochrane Library, PubMed and Embase by October 2023. Data from all controlled trials looking at the effect of BH and RL on wound complications in haemodialysis patients were included. The articles were written in English, and they were about adult who had AVF while on dialysis. Studies with or without BH or RL treatment were excluded from the analysis. The data was analysed with RevMan5.3 software. Out of 215 trials, 9 were chosen for the final analysis. The study publication dates were between 2000 and 2023. Of these, 17 326 patients received AVF therapy. Among them, there were 3070 BH and 14 256 RL. In 9 studies, RL had a lower risk of postoperative wound infection compared to BH (OR, 3.38; 95% CI, 3.06, 3.73 p < 0.0001); In all 3 studies, there were no statistically significant differences in the risk of post operative bleeding in RL versus BH(OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.25, 2.33 p = 0.63). Our studies have demonstrated that RL trocars are superior to BH trocars in the prevention of wound infection.

Gastrointestinal bleeding among 151 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis for end-stage renal failure: A 5-year follow-up study.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is one serious complication of patients undergoing hemodialysis with end-stage renal failure. The present study aimed to evaluate risks and clinical features of real-world clinical data on upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding in patients undergoing hemodialysis during a 5-year longitudinal observation period. This study included 151 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at Takagi Hospital between December 2017 and December 2022. Clinical data from December 2017 were recorded, and upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding, mortality, prescribed medications, and bone fractures were examined during the five-year observation period. Of 151 patients, 32 (21.2%:4.2% per year) experienced bleeding, 24 had upper gastrointestinal bleeding, 7 had lower gastrointestinal bleeding, and one had an unknown origin of bleeding. Ulcers or erosions primarily cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding without Helicobacter pylori infection, whereas patients with H pylori eradication are more likely to experience bleeding caused by vascular lesions, often accompanied by underlying comorbidities. The prophylactic effects of proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor blockers were limited in hemodialysis patients, as 15 out of 24 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (62.5%) were prescribed these medications. The mortality rate in patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding (71.4%) was higher than that in those without bleeding (33.6%) (P < .05). All patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding were prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or aspirin. In this study, endoscopic hemostasis was successfully achieved. The present study indicated that the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding during hemodialysis was relatively high. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding may develop even with the prescription of proton pump inhibitors. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding was a complication in hemodialysis patients under serious pathological condition with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and or aspirin.

Fatal superior vena cava rupture complicating dialysis catheter exchange.

Central vein stenosis (CVS) is a common and challenging complication in hemodialysis patients with chronic central venous catheters (CVCs). CVS often remains asymptomatic and is discovered incidentally during follow-up imaging. CVS symptoms include arm swelling, venous hypertension, impaired dialysis flow rates, and development of collateral veins. However, these symptoms can be nonspecific and overlap with other conditions, making the diagnosis challenging. Timely recognition and appropriate intervention are crucial to prevent complications and optimize patient outcomes. Diagnostic tools commonly used include duplex ultrasonography and venography to assess the degree and location of stenosis. Management strategies for CVS encompass a multidisciplinary approach involving nephrologists, interventional radiologists, and vascular surgeons. Initial conservative measures may include anticoagulation therapy, along with pharmacological interventions such as antiplatelet agents and thrombolytics. The endovascular approach is the first line for managing CVS by using balloon angioplasty either alone or in combination with stent placement, but CVS typically recurs frequently, requiring repeated interventions with an increased risk of complications. Additionally, alternative vascular access options such as arteriovenous fistulas or grafts may be considered. In this report, we describe a case of a 25-year-old woman who presented with an extensive history of multiple dialysis access failure for left internal jugular vein central venous tunneled catheter exchange. The procedure was complicated by a fatal superior vena cava rupture likely related to the dislodgment of the guidewire causing perforation into the pericardium space with subsequent cardiopulmonary collapse. The post-mortem autopsy showed severe organized stenosis of SVC and transmural defect above the SVC/atrial junction.

Antiphospholipid Antibodies Associated with Native Arteriovenous Fistula Complications in Hemodialysis Patients: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature.

Antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-persistent positivity is frequent in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) complications such as stenosis and thrombosis are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. The association between aPL positivity and AVF thrombosis seems to now be well established. However, whether aPL positivity is associated with other AVF complications, such as maturation failure or stenosis, is not well known. Given the significant impact of AVF failure on patient's prognosis, it is of interest to further investigate this particular point in order to improve prevention, surveillance and treatment, and, ultimately, the patient's outcome. This literature review aims to report the recent literature on aPL-associated native AVF complications.

Contributing Factors to Intradialytic Complications in Hemodialysis Patients

Introductioin : Intradialytic complications are still being debated among health workers in the Hemodialysis Unit in Hospitals, many factors can cause patients to experience complications during dialysis. This study aims to identify the factors that contribute to the incidence of intradialytic complications in order to minimize the incidence of complications.&#x0D; Methode : This study used a research design in the form of analytic descriptive with cross-sectional. The sampling technique was a consecutive sampling of 120 patients. The chi-square statistical test aims to examine differences in proportions. If the results of the bivariate test have p &lt; 0.25, then these variables can be included in the multivariate model using multiple logistic regression analysis.&#x0D; Result : Candidate selection results, Hb (0,014), Fluid Compliance (0,221), Venous Access (0,236), IDWG (0,023), and Comorbid (0,006) have a p value less than 0.25. In the multivariate test obtained Comorbid (0,007; OR:2.361 ), IDWG (0,049;OR:-1,894), and Hb (0,047;OR: 0,922), it can be concluded that these three factors have a significant influence on the occurrence of intradialytic complications.The proportion of intradialytic problems that can be described by 5 variables, namely venous access, comorbidities, IDWG, HB, and adherence, is 24%, with the remaining 18% explained by other factors.&#x0D; Conclusion : Comorbid, interdialytic weight gain, and hemoglobin goal accomplishment all have a significant role in the occurrence of intradialytic complication. The findings of this study can be utilized to raise awareness of intradialytic consequences. This vulnerable population need effective management to manage the problems they are experiencing.

The association between plant and animal protein intake and quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Hemodialysis (HD) patients often experience a significant reduction in quality of life (QOL). The source of dietary protein intake may influence the renal function and complications of HD patients. The present study assessed the relationship between plant and animal protein intake and QOL in HD patients. 264 adult patients under dialysis for at least three months were included in this cross-sectional study. Dietary intakes were collected using a valid and reliable 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) over the past year. Total, animal, and plant proteins were calculated for each patient. To evaluate QOL, Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF 1/3) was used. Anthropometric measures were assessed according to standard protocols. In this study, the average age of participants was 58.62 ± 15.26 years old; most (73.5%) were men. The mean of total, plant, and animal proteins intake were 66.40 ± 34.29 g/d, 34.60 ± 18.24 g/d, and 31.80 ± 22.21 g/d. Furthermore, the mean score of QOL was 59.29 ± 18.68. After adjustment for potential confounders, a significant positive association was found between total dietary protein intake and QOL (β = 0.12; p = 0.03). Moreover, there was a significant association between plant-based protein intake and QOL (β = 0.26; p < 0.001). However, the association between animal protein intake and QOL was insignificant (β = 0.03; p = 0.60). Higher total and plant proteins intake were associated with better QOL in HD patients. Further studies, particularly prospective ones, are needed to corroborate these associations.

Cannulation Technique of Vascular Access in Hemodialysis and the Impact on the Arteriovenous Fistula Survival: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Adequate cannulation technique (CT) methods and successful puncture are essential for hemodialysis (HD) and arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maintenance. This systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to identify which CT allows better AVF primary patency and lower rates of complications in HD patients. The search was carried out on the CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Joanna Briggs Institute Library databases to identify all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing clinical outcomes of buttonhole (BH) versus rope ladder cannulation (RL) from 2010 to 2022. The Risk-of-Bias (Rob 2) tool was used for RCTs and the ROBINS-I was used for non-randomized studies. RevMan 5.4 was used for the meta-analysis. A total of five RCTs, one quasi-randomized controlled trial, and six observational studies were included. When compared with RL cannulation, BH cannulation significantly increased bacteremia (RR, 2.76, 95% CI (1.14, 6.67), p = 0.02) but showed no differences in AVF primary patency (HR, 1.06, 95% CI (0.45, 4.21), p = 0.90). There was no thrombosis reduction (RR, 0.51, 95% CI (0.23, 1.14), p = 0.10) or intervention number reduction (RR, 0.93, 95% CI (0.49, 1.80), p = 0.84) with BH. Outcomes like pain, hematoma, and aneurism could not be merged due to a lack of data, reported as medians, as well as due to different definitions. The quality in general was poor and the heterogeneity among the studies prevented us from merging the outcomes.

Therapeutic Strategies for the Prevention of Catheter-Associated Complications in Hemodialysis Patients

Therapeutic Strategies for the Prevention of Catheter-Associated Complications in Hemodialysis Patients

Clinical characteristics of hemodialysis patients with left brachiocephalic vein obstruction due to extrinsic compression or prior catheterization.

Left brachiocephalic vein (LBCV) stenosis is a common complication in hemodialysis patients and is a heterogenous disorder associated with either prior catheterization or extrinsic compression. This study aimed to characterize patients with LBCV stenosis or occlusion with and without a history of central venous catheterization. We performed a retrospective study in 84 hemodialysis patients with LBCV stenosis or occlusion with (n = 22) or without (n = 62) prior catheterization. We compared the clinical features, anatomical factors, restenosis after balloon venoplasty, and patency rates of patients in these two groups. In the cohort of 84 patients with LBCV stenosis or occlusion, 73.8% (62 patients) of them had no history of catheterization. Patients without prior catheterization had more stenotic lesions (p < 0.05) but less occlusive lesions (p < 0.05) than patients with prior catheterization. The space between the sternum and the aorta was narrower in patients without prior catheterization than that in patients with prior catheterization (p < 0.05). Percutaneous venography was performed in 81 patients, and the occurrence of recoil after venoplasty in patients without prior catheterization was significantly higher than that in patients with prior catheterization (p < 0.05). The rate of stent implantation was significantly higher in patients without prior catheterization than patients with prior catheterization (p < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in primary patency between the two groups. LBCV stenosis and occlusion are mainly due to extrinsic compression rather than prior central venous catheterization. Stent implantation is frequently required after venoplasty to treat LBCV obstructive lesions in patients without prior catheterization.

#5448 INCIDENCE OF ACUTE PULMONARY EDEMA AFTER THE SYSTEMATIC USE OF ULTRASOUND B-LINES

Abstract Background and Aims Acute pulmonary edema (APE) due to fluid overload is considered the most feared complication in hemodialysis patients. Various diagnostic tests have been proposed to assess fluid status in patients with end stage kidney failure (ESKF) and among these lung ultrasound (by measuring the number of B-Lines) is emerging as a promising tool to identify pulmonary congestion in this patient-population. Method In the setting of a retrospective study, we pragmatically compared the incidence rate of APE in our center before and after the implementation of lung ultrasound as a routine practice in our unit. Two periods were considered. A pre-implementation period [from 01/01/2007 to 31/12/2008, total person-time: 1913 months/patient, n = 98 patients (Group 1), 85 prevalent and 13 incident patients] and a post-implementation period [from 01/01/2017 to 31/12/2018, total person-time: 2061 months/patient, n = 108 patients (Group 2), 81 prevalent and 27 incident patients]. By accurately reviewing the electronic medical records, all episodes of APE were counted, i.e. all episodes characterized by sudden or worsening dyspnea associated with signs of salt and water overload, confirmed by chest auscultation or chest X-Ray, which required an additional dialysis session and excluding events due to infectious or irritating problems. Results The two groups (Group 1 vs Group 2) were quite similar between them as for age (64±15 vs 67±14 years, p = 0.06), proportion of males (65% vs 62%, p = 0.37) and median dialysis vintage [40 months (interquartile Range, IQR: 16–93 months) vs 46 months (IQR: 12–92), p = 0.76]. The two groups did not differ as for diabetes (21% vs 25%, P = 0.33), hypertension (75% vs 71%, p = 0.36), and smoking habit (29% vs 28%, p = 0.51). Of note, the proportion of patients with background cardiovascular comorbidities was significantly higher in patients of Group 2 (enrolled in the post-implementation period) than in those of Group 1 (31% vs 19%, p = 0.04]. A total of 37 APE episodes in 18 patients (from 1 to 4 episodes per patient) were identified in patients of Group 1 vs 7 APE episodes in 5 patients (from 1 to 2 episodes per patient) in those of Group 2. The incidence rate of APE was 82% lower in patients during the post-implementation period (4 episodes per 100 patients/year, 95% CI: 1–8) than in those during the post implementation period (23 episodes per 100 patient/year, 95% CI: 17–32) (incidence rate ratio: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.10-0.29, p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion The systematic use of lung ultrasound (simple, easy to learn, rapid and non-invasive method, easily performed at the patient's bed) in every day clinical practice drastically reduced (-82%) the episodes of APE in hemodialysis patients. Further observational and interventional studies are needed to confirm these results.

The Role of the Prognostic Inflammatory and Nutritional Index (PINI) in the Evolution of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Other Pathologies.

Protein-energy loss and inflammation are the main risk factors in the occurrence of complications in hemodialysis patients. The Prognostic Inflammatory and Nutritional Index (PINI) is a simple, inexpensive test to identify the early onset of inflammation and malnutrition in hemodialysis patients, critically ill subjects and those with malignancies. A systemic review of English literature was conducted on the topic published between 1985 and 2022. A focused and sensitive search strategy was applied to the PUBMED database to identify relevant scientific articles in English. Once articles were identified, a detailed quality and bias assessment was performed. Two independent researchers analyzed the detailed data extraction. PINI proved to be a sensitive, powerful, low-cost and simple test. PINI has been useful in assessing evolution and prognostics in clinical care, with values above one being associated with a high risk of mortality and morbidity. It is useful in cases with surgical and postoperative complications, long hospitalization, as well as increased associated expenses. This is the first review of the literature on the above-mentioned topic (PINI) and is a valuable candidate for validating prognosis in patients with different pathologies.

Estimation of Oxidant and Antioxidant Levels in Hemodialysis Treated end Stage Renal Disease Patients and Comparison with Normal Population

Objectives: To estimate the plasma oxidant and antioxidant levels in hemodialysis treated end stage renal disease patients and to match them with normal population. Study Design and Setting: It was a comparative prospective study. This study was carried out at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center Karachi, from January 2018 till December 2018. Methodology: The hemodialysis patients (group B) were selected from the Dialysis Center of JPMC Karachi whereas the controls (group A) were recruited from normal healthy population. Consecutive sampling technique was used. The cases taken were receiving maintenance hemodialysis thrice a week. Antioxidant levels were determined by estimating plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) while oxidant levels were estimated by detection of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and compared with the levels of control group. Results: The mean superoxide dismutase level in control group was 108.53±19.44 while mean SOD levels in hemodialysis group was 46.20±19.18. . In control group mean MDA was 10.87±3.04, and in hemodialysis group mean MDA was 31.01±8.48.This results show the increased risk of oxidative stress resulting in complications in hemodialysis patients. Conclusion: Antioxidant levels are reduced in hemodialysis patients as compared to the normal population while the oxidant levels are much increased in hemodialysis group. This imbalance contributes to the oxidative stress related complications taking place in these patients. This study will help the nephrologist to elaborate the protective role of antioxidant administration in oxidative stress that can improve the cardiovascular mortality rate in hemodialysis treated end stage renal disease.

Different outcomes following parathyroidectomy in patients with uremic tumoral calcinosis: two case reports

BackgroundUremic tumoral calcinosis (UTC) is a rare complication in hemodialysis patients, whose mechanism remains incompletely understood. We report two cases with UTC who experienced completely different patterns of regression following parathyroidectomy, although there were no significant differences in serum calcium levels, parathyroid hormone, or phosphorus production between the two patients.Case presentationCase 1 had a substantial improvement in soft tissue calcification. However, in Case 2, one calcified mass was partially absorbed, while the others were aggravated with severe microvascular calcification and subcutaneous extravascular calcification. Whole-exome sequencing data revealed five mutation sites associated with atherosclerosis.ConclusionThe different outcomes in UTC patients after PTX are rare. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism of paradoxical changes occurring in patients with UTC after parathyroidectomy.

Effects of warm or cold compresses applied to the legs during hemodialysis on cramps, fatigue, and patient comfort: A placebo-controlled randomized trial.

Muscle cramps and fatigue are common complications in hemodialysis patients and have been associated with reduced patient comfort. Among the complementary therapies advocated for the management of these complications have been the application of warm or cold compresses to the extremities during a hemodialysis treatment. In this study, we compared the effects of warm or cold compresses application on cramping, fatigue, and patient comfort. This placebo-controlled randomized trial was done in 69 patients, who were stratified and randomly allocated to three treatment arms. Two of the three groups included an intervention; application of either warm (n=23) or cold (n=23) compresses to the extremities during dialysis. The third group served as a placebo control (n=23). The study period comprised 12 hemodialysis sessions. One week after the completion of the intervention, a follow-up dialysis session was also evaluated. Data were collected at baseline (t0 ), during each of 12 intervention sessions (t1 -t12 ), and at the follow-up session t13 . Cramps, fatigue, and patient comfort were evaluated using the Cramp Episode Follow-up Chart, Piper's Fatigue Scale, and the Hemodialysis Comfort Scale, respectively. In both the intervention and follow-up sessions, cramping and fatigue were lower, and comfort was higher in each of the intervention groups compared to placebo controls Application of warm compresses was superior to use of cold compresses. Both warm and cold compress administration reduced muscle cramps, fatigue, and hemodialysis comfort in hemodialysis patients.

Prevalence of Anemia and Variations of Hematological Parameters among Anemic Hemodialysis Patients in the Tripoli Region

Background: Prolonged decline in the ability of the kidney to regulate acid–base balance, eliminate waste products, and manage water homeostasis and entered chronic phase, toxic metabolic accumulates and erythropoietin secretion by the kidney is decreasing and causes hematological changes including decrease of HCT, MCV, RBCs and platelet counts. Hemodialysis became a practical treatment for kidney failure and is the most common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney failure. Anemia is one of the most common complications in hemodialysis patients. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anemia among hemodialysis patients and investigate the variations of hematological parameters among anemic hemodialysis patients in the Tripoli region. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 250 renal failure patients, attending Tripoli Center for dialysis and 100 normal healthy subjects. The study Ethical Committee of the medical centers and the Libyan Academy of graduate studies reviewed and approved the study design and patient consent statements were taken from each patient. Information's about the patients were recorded in a questionnaire. A blood sample of 5 ml was drawn by venous puncture from each normal healthy individual and hemodialysis patient. 2.5 ml of the blood sample was collected in K-EDTA tubes for the hematological examinations and another 2.5 ml of the blood sample was collected in a plain tubes for biochemical tests (serum urea, creatinine, and uric acid concentrations). The hematological parameters (RBCs count, Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, WBCs count, differential count of WBCs, and Platelets count) were determined using an automated hematology analyzer Sysmex (K- 4500) machine. The data were compared using GraphPad Prism version.9. The statistical significance of differences between groups was evaluated with the independent t-test. A P-value of &lt;0.05 was considered significant for all statistical tests. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of anemia among hemodialysis patients was 89.8%. The degrees of anemia were 17% severe, 71.66% moderate, and 11.34% mild anemia. The types of anemia were 13.36% microcytic hypochromic, 82.59% normocytic hypochromic, and 4.05% macrocytic hypochromic anemia. RBCs, WBCs &amp; platelets counts, Hct, MCHC, and Lymphocytes % showed a significant (P&lt;0.01) decrease, and MCV was a significant (P&lt;0.01) increase in the anemic hemodialysis patients compared with the healthy individuals. But, a significant (P&lt;0.05) decrease in MCH was observed in the anemic hemodialysis patients when compared with the healthy individuals. A significant correlation was observed between RBCs and their indices with most of the hematological parameters. A significant (P&lt;0.01) negative correlation was observed between serum urea with Hb, and RBCs count and Hct. While, a significant (P&lt;0.01) positive correlation was recorded between uric acid with platelets count. A significant (P&lt;0.05) positive correlation was observed between gender with platelets count, while, a significant negative correlation was recorded between gender with serum urea (P&lt;0.01), creatinine, and uric acid, and Hb (P&lt;0.05). A significant (P&lt;0.01) negative correlation was observed between blood groups with serum uric acid. A significant (P&lt;0.01) positive correlation was observed between durations of hemodialysis with RBCs count and Hb, while, a significant (P&lt;0.05) negative correlation was recorded between durations of hemodialysis with body weight, and MCHC. Conclusion: It can be concluded that a higher prevalence of moderate, normocytic hypochromic anemia among hemodialysis patients. Also, results showed a significant variation in hematological parameters among the anemic hemodialysis patients. So, hemodialysis patients advice to examine the hematological parameters and treated from anemia if detected.

Multi-head self-attention mechanism enabled individualized hemoglobin prediction and treatment recommendation systems in anemia management for hemodialysis patients

Anemia is a critical complication in hemodialysis patients, but the response to erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESA) treatment varies from patient to patient and is not linear across different time points. The aim of this study was to develop deep learning algorithms for individualized anemia management. We retrospectively collected 36,677 data points from 623 hemodialysis patients, including clinical data, laboratory values, hemoglobin levels, and previous ESA doses. To reduce the computational complexity associated with recurrent neural networks (RNN) in processing time-series data, we developed neural networks based on multi-head self-attention mechanisms in an efficient and effective hemoglobin prediction model. Our proposed model achieved a more accurate hemoglobin prediction than the state-of-the-art RNN model, as shown by the smaller mean absolute error (MAE) of hemoglobin (0.451 vs. 0.593 g/dL, p = 0.014). In ESA (including darbepoetin and epoetin) dose recommendation, the simulation results by our model revealed a higher rate of achieved hemoglobin targets (physician prescription vs. model: 86.3 % vs. 92.7 %, p < 0.001), a lower rate of hemoglobin levels below 10 g/dL (13.7 % vs. 7.3 %, p < 0.001) and smaller change in hemoglobin levels (0.6 g/dL vs. 0.4 g/dL, p < 0.001) in all patients. Our model holds great potential for individualized anemia management as a computerized clinical decision support system for hemodialysis patients. Further external validation with other datasets and prospective clinical utility studies are warranted.

The relationship between hemodialysis patients' treatment adherence, procrastination, and difficulty in emotion regulation: A cross-sectional study in southeast Iran.

End-stage renal disease is a life-threatening condition in which patients require dialysis or kidney transplant. These patients must adhere to the treatment regimen because treatment non-adherence affects their quality of life and health. We conducted this study to predict hemodialysis patients' treatment adherence based on procrastination and difficulty in emotion regulation. We conducted this descriptive correlational study on 218 hemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease. We used purposive sampling to select participants from six dialysis centers in Kerman, Sirjan, and Rafsanjan. The measuring tools included the end-stage renal disease adherence questionnaire, general procrastination scale, decisional procrastination scale, and difficulty in emotion regulation scale. We used the correlation coefficient, regression analysis, and SPSS18 to analyze data. Our study indicated that among the dimensions of treatment adherence, medication use had a significant, weak, and inverse relationship with general and decisional procrastination. We also found a significant, weak, and inverse relationship between attendance and general procrastination (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). But there is no significant relationship between treatment adherence, general procrastination, and decisional procrastination (p > 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed a relationship between age, the cause of kidney failure, and treatment adherence (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02). Treatment non-adherence causes problems and complications in hemodialysis Patients, and disrupts their course of treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the factors influencing non-adherence of patients undergoing hemodialysis and improve their treatment adherence, and thus their quality of life.

Nitric Oxide Levels as a Marker of Intradialytic Hypertension in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients.

Intradialytic hypertension (IDH) is an important emerging complication in hemodialysis patients. No study has examined the diagnostic markers of various risk factors for the occurrence of IDH in chronic hemodialysis patients. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the use of nitric oxide (NO) as a marker of IDH among end-stage renal disease patients. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (40 patients) with IDH and Group II (40 patients) without IDH. For all participants, a full medical history was taken, followed by laboratory examinations to measure the level of NO and a clinical examination. The dose of erythropoietin per week, the level of intact parathyroid hormone, and platelet count were significantly higher in Group I than in Group II, whereas the mean level of NO (2.10 ± 1.23 pmol/L) was highly significantly lower in patients with IDH (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that hypertension (odds ratio: 1.824, 95% confidence interval: 1.273-2.982) and the level of NO (odds ratio: 1.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.13-2.97) were independent risk factors for IDH. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the cutoff point of NO was 2.52 μmol/L to differentiate between cases with and without IDH (area under the curve = 0.844). Our findings support previous research regarding the involvement of endothelial dysfunction and a higher sodium level in the pathogenesis of IDH. We also found that the NO level had a good diagnostic value for the occurrence of IDH at a cutoff of 2.52 μmol/L.

Central Vein Stenosis in Patients with Central Vein Manipulation: A Single Center Experience

Introduction: Central vein catheterization (CVC) is one of the main risk factors for central vein stenosis (CVS) occurrence in the hemodialysis population. In this work we aimed to evaluate previous central venous manipulation, clinical presentation, and complications in hemodialysis patients with proved CVS. Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all venous angiographies in patients attending our public hospital center for hemodialysis treatment from 2013 to 2018 (n=209). In patients with confirmed CVS (n=29, 14%), we evaluated history of prior CVC and cardiac rhythm devices (CDR), as well as demographics and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: We identified 31 CVS in 29 patients who underwent venous angiography. Most of these patients, 75.9% (n=22), had at least one CVC (ipsilateral or not); at least one previous ipsilateral short-term CVC was found in 34.4% (n=10) of patients and at least one previous ipsilateral long-term CVC was found in 41.4% (n=12) of patients. All patients who had a prior CRD (n=4, 13.8%), had developed an ipsilateral CVS. Conclusion: Prevalence of detected CVS in our population was significant and is likely underestimated. A high percentage of patients with CVS had an history of previous ipsilateral CVC. The number of patients with previous short-term CVC was similar to that of previous long-term CVC, hinting an important role of short-term CVC as a risk factor do CVS.