No kidding: daily HD has better quality of life than standard in-center HD

Okay, we're not surprised to find that a meta-analysis of 17 papers comparing daily HD to standard HD found that folks using daily treatment had fewer access problems, better blood pressure control, less LVH, better anemia control, needed fewer phosphate binders—and had better quality of life.

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

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On dialysis and want a baby? Think about nocturnal HD

The numbers are very small—but in a new study, 5 women ages 31–37 had 7 pregnancies between them and 6 live infants while receiving 43–53 hours of nocturnal HD per week. Two of the infants were small for gestational age, and one was premature. None of the women (from Toronto) had conceived while doing standard HD.

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

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More blood pressure meds + standard HD doesn't = better BP

Both daily and nocturnal HD can aid blood pressure control and reduce the need for BP meds. But do more BP meds on their own help blood pressure in patients on standard therapy? A new study says NO. Among 106 ESRD patients, those who took 4+ BP pills had no better blood pressure than those who took 2–3 or 0–1.

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

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High ultrafiltration (UF) rates stress the heart

Standard in-center HD requires high UF rates to remove fluid. A 5-year prospective study of 287 dialyzors from 2007 found this is a BAD idea. During the study, 149 patients died—69% due to heart problems. Survival was better with UF less than 12.37 ml/h/kg—which is much more doable at home.

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

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Fewer heart problems with nocturnal HD

A new 2-year study from Canada looked at 42 folks on standard HD and 32 on nocturnal HD. Hospital stays for heart problems dropped in those using nocturnal, but stayed the same for the standard dialyzors. Lower phosphorus and better anemia control were also found in those using nocturnal.

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

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Stable hemoglobin levels predict survival in HD

An analysis of 34,963 dialyzors found that variations in hemoglobin were harmful. In fact each 1 g/dL increase in hemoglobin variability raised the risk of death by 33%—even after adjusting for many other factors. Good anemia management can help you live longer.

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

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Human trial reports on wearable artificial kidney (WAK) in UK

The competition for better home HD gets even hotter! The December 2007 edition of Lancet includes an article about use of the WAK in 5 men and 3 women, who tried the device for 4–8 hours. There were no adverse heart, electrolyte, or acid-base events—though some access problems did occur, and dialysis itself is not yet optimal. It's still cool, though.

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

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Study finds survival advantage for home hemo over in-center

A new retrospective Swiss study (Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation Jan 2005, 20:604-610) matched 58 home hemo (HHD) patients with 58 in-center patients on sex, age, length of time on dialysis, and cause of kidney failure. The researchers found better survival among the HHD patients at 5 (93% vs. 64%), 10 (72% vs. 48%), and 20 years (34% vs. 23%).

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

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Wearable artificial kidney a step closer?

A company called National Quality Care presented its newly patented wearable artificial kidney (WAK) at the recent American Society of Nephrology meeting in Philadelphia. Invented by Dr. Victor Gura, the WAK is vastly smaller than current machines, and will permit 24/7 dialysis. Read more to learn how it will work.

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

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Home hemo rates vary more than other modalities

A paper published in this month's Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation by Drs. Macgregor, Agar, and Blagg found more variation in the rates of home hemo between countries than any other type of dialysis. The authors concluded that "significant expansion of home HD is likely to be possible in most countries, and will be increasingly important as the impressive results of more frequent HD gain credence."

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

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