PD Dialysate With Hydrogen May Protect Peritoneal Membranes

Over time, the peritoneum can be harmed by glucose degradation products in PD dialysate. In 6 patients, PD fluid with dissolved hydrogen significantly reduced oxidative stress vs. standard PD fluid.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-07-17)

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Better Blood Sugar Control, Fewer PD Infections

No surprises here: blood sugar control matters in PD. A study that looked back at 183 PD patients found that those with poor control were more than twice as likely to have had an exit site or catheter infection as those with good control.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-07-17)

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How much dialysis improves nutritional status?

Is short daily HD enough dialysis to appetite, food intake, and improve serum albumin levels? Maybe after a long time on dialysis, says a new study. But those who did nocturnal HD needed fewer binders.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-05-24)

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Phosphate is a blood vessel toxin

If blood phosphate levels are too high, the blood vessels can turn to stone—even in children. Heart damage from high phosphate levels can begin in pre-dialysis CKD. "Keeping serum P levels in the normal range reduces cardiovascular risk and mortality," say the authors. [Editor's note: nocturnal hemodialysis removes the most phosphate of any dialysis option.]

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-05-24)

Tags: Chronic kidney disease

Impact of frequent HD on residual kidney function

We know that PD can help residual kidney function last longer. What happens with longer and/or more frequent HD? Results from the FHN trials suggest that residual kidney function loss may be faster with these options. [Editor's note: But, if more kidney replacement therapy is given, does it matter?]

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-05-24)

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Nocturnal home HD – no change in outcomes if a partner is needed

Do Canadian nocturnal home HD patients do worse if they need a partner to help them? No, says a study of 152 people, 47 who needed partners and 105 who could do their treatments unaided. Partner dependent patients were older, more likely to have diabetes, and had more comorbidities. But, there were no significant differences between groups in time to first hospitalization, technique failure, or survival.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-04-29)

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Starting more people on PD does not cause harm

In Canada, a study looked at PD "attempt rates": how often each nephrologist would start new patients on PD. Between the highest and lowest attempt rates, there were no differences in PD success—or survival. The authors conclude that maximizing PD start rates can save money to help more people, with no harm to patients.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-04-29)

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Daily HD does not harm accesses – a prospective, controlled study

A 4-year study was done of 51 on standard HD (3x4 hours) vs 23 on daily HD (6x3 hours). The standard HD group had 543.2 access procedures/1000 patient years; the daily group had 400.8. Adjusting for age, gender, diabetes, phosphorus level, and anemia, there were no significant differences in number of procedures or time to first access revision.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-04-29)

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New hope for stopping peritoneal fibrosis

There are vitamin D receptors all over the body. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked with severe fibrosis. This study gave mice peritoneal fibrosis and then looked at the impact of treatment with a vitamin D analog (22-oxacalcitriol). The treatment significantly prevented fibrosis and thickening of the peritoneum.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-04-29)

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More HD lowers C-reactive protein and boosts nutritional status

A study from Iran found that adding one standard HD treatment per week for 6 weeks significantly decreased C-reactive protein (a measure of inflammation), and increased serum albumin and BMI. The authors conclude that getting more HD may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-04-29)

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