Home Dialysis Central
...everything you need to know about doing dialysis at home.
Journal watch
Nocturnal HD: MUCH better survival
On standard in-center HD, 5-year survival is about 20%. A new study of 247 dialyzors from Canada found a 5-year survival on nocturnal HD of about 80%. Those who were younger and did not have diabetes did even better.
Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)
Low GDP PD fluid protects residual kidney function
Researchers think GDPs—caramel formed when sugar is heated up during PD fluid production—harm the peritoneum. Now, a randomized study proves it. Those using low GDP fluid had 3x as much kidney function after 18 months.
Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)
NAC appears to improve residual kidney function in people on PD
A supplement called N-acetylcysteine improved residual kidney function by about 50% in people on PD. (ALWAYS talk to your doctor before taking ANY over the counter meds.)
Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)
New formula finds residual renal function with just ONE urine sample
24-hour urine tests are not a lot of fun. Japanese researchers have found that a ratio of two cystatin-C and creatinine in the urine predicts residual function just about as well, without all of the hassle.
Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)
Green dialysis: Saving the planet
Dialysis uses a lot of power and a lot of water. Reusing those resources saves water, energy, and money. Our own Dr. John Agar has a new paper out about his solar dialysis and water reuse practices in Australia.
Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)
Toronto: 61% of dialysis patients went home
Imagine what US dialysis would look like if we could do what our neighbors do! A study of 486 people with CKD from 2001-2007 found that, of the 153 who started dialysis, most went home (79 on PD, 15 on home HD). Why (or why not)?
Read more | (added Feb 24, 2011)
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 more | (added Feb 24, 2011)
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 more | (added Feb 24, 2011)
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 more | (added Feb 24, 2011)
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 more | (added Feb 24, 2011)
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