Journal Watch
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On PD, higher uric acid levels predict faster loss of kidney function
Keeping as much of your kidney function as you can is a plus on PD or HD. A new study from Korea has found that people on PD whose levels of uric acid were higher had a faster decline in their kidney function. Those with higher blood pressure tended to have higher uric acid levels.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)
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Need high doses of EPO? Might want to check for CMV
A new study from the Netherlands has found that people who have ESRD and have been exposed to the cytomegalovirus (CMV) have immune changes. With fewer working T-cells, they can't respond as well to anemia drugs.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)
Tags: Chronic kidney disease
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Need a bone density test on PD? Be sure you're empty
A new study has found that having fluid in your belly when you have a bone density test (called DXA) can change the results.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)
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PD doesn't zap your heart
"Myocardial stunning" occurs in HD due to brief periods of not enough blood flow to the heart muscle. Over time, as this happens over and over, it can cause heart damage. In a small study (just 10 people') looking at heart muscles, PD exchanges did not reduce blood flow to the heart—so, no stunning occurred.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)
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Fungal peritonitis (FP)? Take catheter out sooner rather than later
FP is a rare but serious problem on PD—and it can be lethal. A new study of 94 cases found that survival was nearly 3 times better when the infected catheter was removed within 24 hours of diagnosis.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)
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Future of the artificial kidney
Learn the latest on futuristic dialysis with wearable and miniaturized devices!
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)
Tags: Chronic kidney disease
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Naturally higher red blood cell counts do NOT reduce survival
It never made sense to us that a "normal" hemoglobin level would somehow become harmful in kidney failure. And, in fact, it's not the Hgb itself that causes harm. A new DOPPS study of 545 people on dialysis whose Hgbs were normal without ESA drugs found no difference in survival.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)
Tags: Chronic kidney disease
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Buttonholes made easier with BioHole™ device
A polycarbonate peg placed in the needle track after dialysis can form buttonholes more quickly and accurately than using cannulation alone. The BioHole peg may help more people use the buttonhole technique—so they can take their treatments home.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)
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Electrolyte management with more-frequent HD
How do you adjust short daily or nocturnal HD treatments to keep electrolytes in balance? This abstract isn't all that helpful—but you may want to get hold of the whole article.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)
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Better CKD care saves lives
People who met targets for access, hemoglobin, and blood protein levels before starting dialysis were far more likely to survive the first year, finds a new study of 192,307 patients. But just 2% met all three goals—even when they'd been seeing a nephrologist for a year.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)
Tags: Chronic kidney disease