Itching? It May Be Due To High Calcium—Not Phosphorus

A study of 120 HD patients found high levels of serum phosphorus and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in those with and without dialysis itching (pruritus). But, the itchiest patients had significantly higher serum calcium levels.

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

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If at first you don't succeed with PD...it still costs less than in-center HD

A 4-year Canadian study has found that over a 3-year period, the cost of starting on PD and then switching to HD ($114,503) is still much less than doing standard in-center HD ($175,996). But starting and continuing PD is the lowest cost dialysis option ($58,724).

Read the abstract » | (added 2013-01-25)

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Metaanalysis: More HD boosts heart health

A metaanalysis of 46 studies concluded that switching from standard in-center HD to longer and/or more frequent HD significantly reduced left ventricular mass and improved blood pressure and the cardiac ejection fraction.

Read the abstract » | (added 2012-08-16)

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Switching from 3x4 hours HD to 6x3 hours reduced blood pressure, and improved hgb, albumin, & BMI

Healthy kidneys work 168 hours a week, but most people only get about 12 hours of dialysis. In this study, 11 people were switched to more frequent HD. After 12 months, they had significantly better blood pressure with fewer meds, higher hgb levels with lower ESA doses, higher albumin levels, lower dry weight, and better BMIs. Calcium-phosphorus products dropped significantly with no changes in binder doses.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-04-25)

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Benefits of switching from 3x/week in-center HD to 6x/week home HD

Among 11 people who switched treatments, blood pressure dropped, hemoglobin levels rose (with lower ESA doses), the calcium-phosphorus product dropped (with no change in binder doses), and BMI and serum albumin levels went up. We are so not surprised!

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-03-30)

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Switching from standard to nocturnal HD improves vitamin D levels

In 35 patients who did nocturnal HD for 6 months or more, levels of active vitamin D rose significantly. The study patients had no diet limits, and their serum phosphorus levels fell after the switch from in-center HD. Normalizing phosphorus levels may help the body to produce more active vitamin D.

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

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Nocturnal HD protects blood vessels

Damage to smooth muscle cells may be one reason why people on standard in-center HD tend to have more clogged and calcified arteries. In 15 patients studied before and after switching from standard HD to nocturnal HD, there was better smooth muscle growth and less cell death on nocturnal. (Blood pressure, PTH levels, and phosphorus levels improved, too.)

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

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CAPD and CCPD come out even in meta-analysis

A Cochrane database review looked at studies comparing CAPD and CCPD for peritonitis, hernias, switching to HD, fluid leaks, hospital stays, and death—and found no significant differences between them. CCPD may have some pluses in terms of schedule for younger, working patients.

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

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Secondary arteriovenous fistulas: Converting prosthetic AV grafts to autogenous dialysis access

Dialysis fistulas tend to have fewer clots, infections, and hospital stays than grafts. Switching from a graft to a fistula was highly (90%+) successful after 2 years in a new study.

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

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Mind the gap

In the UK, "mind the gap" means watch your step as you get off the train. For in-center HD, the gap is the 2-day dialysis weekend. It turns out that switching randomly chosen patients from 3x/week to every other day HD for 12 months reduced blood pressure, left ventricular mass, EPO dose, urea rebound, and symptoms. Of course; it's more physiological!

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

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