People want treatments that offer FREEDOM

A new study interviewed 52 people who were on one of 4 types of dialysis or had a transplant—and learned that "freedom, convenience, self-care, effectiveness, and simplicity" were important. (We could have told you that.)

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

Tags: Chronic kidney disease

Give me a D!

No, it's not your grade in math. A new study has found that deficiency of vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin) is present in 79% of people on dialysis—especially if they start treatment in the winter. Too-low levels have been linked to bone and heart disease. Ask your doctor if your levels are where they should be.

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

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Tidal PD preserves residual kidney function longer

In tidal PD, instead of draining ALL of the fluid out after an exchange, some fluid is always left in the peritoneum. A new, small study suggests that this technique may allow longer use of PD by helping to preserve residual kidney function. After 3 years, 10 dialyzors using tidal PD had significantly higher renal creatinine clearance and urine output than 19 automated PD users.

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

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Surgical adhesions? PD may still be possible

Conventional wisdom says that PD is not a good choice for people who've had complex abdominal surgery or have adhesions. But a study of two groups of people—with and one without adhesions—found no significant differences in catheter success, infections, or the need for more surgery.

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

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Access-challenged people on HD have a new HeRO

Running out of vascular access sites is no laughing matter. A new fully-implantable dialysis catheter helps solve the infection risk that occurs when a catheter goes through the skin and into a central vein. In a new study of 36 people, the Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) had infection rates similar to grafts.

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

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Pipeline PD technology: Vincenza wearable artificial kidney minicycler

What if instead of exchanging bags of fluid for CAPD, you put in one fresh bag each morning, then wore a small pump to filter and regenerate it over and over? You'd save time—and use a lot less fluid. This system, invented by Dr. Claudio Ronco and associates in Italy, is being tested right now.

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

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On PD and need a colonoscopy? Ask for antibiotics first

A new study of 77 people on PD who had 97 colonoscopies found that peritonitis is much less likely when antibiotics are taken before it was done. Even in those who did get peritonitis, antibiotic treatment worked.

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

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Inflammation helps explain EPO resistance on PD

Sometimes high doses of EPO are needed to reach a target hemoglobin. Why? A new study found that on PD, inflammation (measured by c-reactive protein), too-low levels of serum albumin, and abnormal levels of PTH were some of the factors.

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

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Peritoneal cell transplants—a future option for PD?

Over time, glucose-based PD fluid can cause fibrosis and blood vessel changes to the peritoneal membrane, making PD impossible. But what if you could transplant the cells lining the peritoneum and grow a new layer from your own tissue? Could PD continue? Researchers are looking into this intriguing possibility.

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

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Make your own PD fluid?

Okay, it's a long way off. But what if you could make pure water at home for PD, instead of having to ship bags of PD fluid across the country? Think of the space you'd save. Researchers in Italy used a dialyzer to purify used PD fluid and create pure water.

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

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