Nocturnal HD improves cognitive function

Fuzzy thinking on in-center HD? A new study suggests that nocturnal HD can help. Patients who switched to nocturnal HD had a 22% fewer cognitive symptoms and 32% better attention and working memory after 6 months.

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

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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 helps bone mineral status

Doing nocturnal home HD every other night helps bone minerals stay at more normal levels than standard treatments, say researchers from Australia in a new study. After 26 patients switched from standard (home) to nocturnal HD, their serum phosphorus and calcium-phosphorus products fell, most needed no binders, and bone mineral density was stable. Plus, blood vessel calcification improved or at least was stable in 87.5%.

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

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New study finds better survival with short daily home hemo

Compared to USRDS survival figures for conventional (3 times a week) in-center hemo, 117 people using short daily home hemo had a significantly lower standardized mortality rate, found a study by Drs. Blagg, Kjellstrand, Ting, and Young.

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

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Redefining HD adequacy based on phosphorus

High phosphorus levels in dialyzors cause a host of life-threatening problems—but a higher HD dose based on urea clearance doesn't save lives. An article in Seminars in Dialysis suggests that we use phosphorus removal as a marker instead. Daily and nocturnal HD both remove more phosphorus than standard HD. It's time to give another marker a try.

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

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Lying down during dialysis beats sitting up, new study suggests

When we lie down, our blood plasma volume expands, and when we sit up, it contracts. A new study concludes that nocturnal dialysis causes smaller day-to-day shifts in hemoglobin and serum albumin (protein) than standard, seated treatments.

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

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More dialysis, longer life

In 2003, researchers from the 12-nation Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns (DOPPS) study found that HD treatments shorter than 3.5 hours had a 33% higher risk of death. A new DOPPS paper reports that each extra 30 minutes of HD reduces the relative risk of death by 7%. Unfortunately, this study also documented mean US in-center treatment times of...3.5 hours.

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

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Depressed and on PD? Sertraline (Zoloft) may help

Of 32 people on PD who had clinical depression, 25 agreed to try Zoloft. Twelve weeks later, the Zoloft group was less depressed and had better physical and mental function, with no adverse drug effects.

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

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Soy reduces heart disease risk on PD

Adding 1/2 oz. of soy protein per day for 8 weeks reduced the levels of Lp(a)—a marker of risk for heart disease—in people on PD. In the study, 20 people were randomly assigned to get the soy protein, while 20 did not.

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

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PD and home HD don't compete with each other

A new study finds that different people are attracted to PD vs. home HD. Those who chose PD tended to be older, female, and have diabetes and/or high blood pressure. Those who chose home HD were younger, more likely to be male, and had heart or blood vessel disease. Both treatment options are growing worldwide (perhaps because they're better?!).

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

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