News from the FHN Study

Results are starting to trickle in from the Frequent Hemodialysis Network study. The most common reasons why people did not want to do home HD were lack of motivation, not wanting to change from in-center treatment, and fear of putting in their own needles.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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Breast cancer drug offers hope for encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS)

Tamoxifen has been shown to improve survival in EPS--a rare, but sometimes deadly PD complication that can lead to bowel obstruction. In a study of 63 people with severe EPS, those treated with the drug had significantly better survival.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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PD does not cause myocardial stunning

On standard HD, drops in blood pressure can reduce blood flow to the heart. Over time, this repeat "stunning" can cause heart damage. An in-depth study of 10 people on PD found that stunning did not occur.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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Doing PD with no kidney function? Be sure your UF is 1 liter/day

You can do PD with no remaining kidney function. But a new study finds that people who get at least 1 liter of UF back each day live longer on PD than those who don't. If your UF is less, talk with your doctor.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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Patients: Buttonholes feel AND look better

Among 53 people doing HD, 93% had shorter bleeding times with the Buttonhole technique, 81% had less needle pain, and 80% felt that their fistulas looked better. Fewer people needed surgery to fix their fistulas, too.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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Antibiotic ointment aids Buttonhole safety

The only downside of the Buttonhole technique for dialysis needles has been a higher risk of infection. That risk can be reduced, finds a new study. No patient who put mupirocin (Bactroban®) ointment on Buttonholes after treatment got an infection.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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Better blood pressure control with short daily HD

In a new study of 12 patients switched from standard to daily HD, blood pressure was less variable on daily treatments—and drops during treatment were significantly reduced. (These changes may help explain the better survival on this treatment.)

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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Better sleep rhythms with nocturnal HD

Who sleeps best on dialysis? A new study found the most normal levels of melatonin (a hormone that helps control sleep patterns) in people who did nocturnal HD. Those on PD also had better sleep than people who did standard in-center HD.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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42% higher risk of death found with less-than-4-hour HD

Short standard in-center HD treatments done 3 times a week were linked with a much higher risk of death in a new study of 8,552 people. Of course, "further studies are needed...."

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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A Brazil nut a day keeps the doctor away

Heart disease risk is higher among people on HD, due to oxidative stress (basically rust). Selenium reduces this stress—and Brazil nuts are the best known source. In a new study, 81 people on HD ate one Brazil nut each day. At the end of 3 months, their levels of the protective enzyme GSH-Px were normal.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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