Journal Watch

  • Community house home hemodialysis in Australia and New Zealand

    Not everyone who wants to dialyze at home is able to. In Australia and New Zealand unstaffed, non-medical community homes fill a gap to make "home" treatments possible. This observational study compared mortality among 113 community home dialyzers to 5,591 people on PD, 1,532 on home HD, and 5,647 on in-center HD. Community house HD was safe and effective.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2012-12-19)

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  • Phosphate is a blood vessel toxin

    High levels of phosphorus in the blood is linked with blood vessel calcification, thickened blood vessel walls, arterial stiffness, and heart damage—and may even cause premature aging.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2012-12-19)

    Tags: Chronic kidney disease

  • CAPD improved outcomes in hard to treat CHF

    In a study in Spain, 28 people with advanced congestive heart failure were treated with PD, while 34 controls were not. Sixteen months later, those who did PD were 40% more likely to survive.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2012-11-27)

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  • Biocompatible PD solution preserves residual kidney function

    Researchers in Korea looked at the long-term impact of using Fresenius Balance® (FB) fluid vs. standard PD fluid. After 24 months, the GFR of patients using FB was twice that of those using standard fluid. Patients using FB also had better correction of metabolic acidosis, and higher levels of cancer fighting antigens.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2012-11-27)

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  • Home HD for obese patients

    In Australia, a 215 Kg man has successfully dialyzed at home for 8 years, after training by a program that has trained 23 obese (BMI >30) people to date. Home HD is a cost effective option with good outcomes in this group.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2012-11-27)

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  • Long-term effects of daily HD on vascular access

    Does more frequent use of a vascular access create problems for those who do short daily HD? A new 4-year prospective, randomized study of 77 people says NO. Patients did six 3-hour HD sessions per week (n=26) or three 4-hour sessions (n=51). There were fewer access procedures in the daily group (543.2 per 1000 patient years, vs. 400.8), though this difference was not significant. There was also no difference in time to first access revision or access failure.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2012-10-25)

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  • Chest ultrasound finds some lung congestion in asymptomatic PD patients

    Italian researchers did chest ultrasounds on 88 PD patients. Just under half had moderate to severe lung congestion—even though 57% had no shortness of breath, and only 27% had foot swelling.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2012-10-25)

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  • Bone density better in PD than in standard HD

    A study compared bone density X-rays in 56 people on standard HD and 23 on PD to 79 healthy people matched for age, gender, BMI, and menopausal status. The healthy people had higher bone density than those on dialysis. But, those on standard HD had significantly lower bone density than those on PD.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2012-10-25)

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  • Outcomes of extended-hours HD (mainly at home)

    Among 286 people in Australia who did 24 hours or more of HD per week (96% at home), survival was 98% for 1 year, 92% for 3 years, and 83% for 5 years. Technique survival was 90% for 1 year, 77% for 3 years, and 68% for 5 years. This study did find higher rates of access problems with more frequent HD, but there was no control group.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2012-10-25)

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  • How to overcome barriers and set up a successful home HD program

    Want to establish a home HD program, but don't know how to overcome the barriers? Look no further. This review article by giants in the field will help you get started.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2012-10-25)

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