Journal Watch
Italians Improve on Daily Home HD
As in the U.S., the Italian Ministry of Health has home dialysis as a primary objective. In a 2-year study of seven people switched to six times per week daily home HD, significant improvements began to appear almost immediately. After 3-6 months, bone mineral balance and blood pressure were better, PTH levels and use of phosphate binders dropped, and the participants needed less rhEPO.
Read the abstract » | (added 2021-11-12)
Tags: Home Dialysis, Daily Home HD, RhEPO, Mineral Balance, Blood Pressure, PTH Levels
Lower salt diet and residual kidney function on PD
Sixty-two people on PD were divided into three groups by salt intake (<6 grams/day, 6-8 grams/day, and>8 grams/day). One year later, those with the highest salt intake had the fastest decline in residual kidney function.
Read the abstract » | (added 2021-10-13)
Tags: PD, Salt Intake, Residual Kidney Function
Low serum vitamin D levels, anemia, and inflammation on PD
When 62 people on PD were compared to 56 healthy volunteers, the PD group had significantly lower vitamin D levels—and significantly higher inflammatory markers (HS-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α). The researchers concluded that low vitamin D levels contribute to anemia, oxidative stress, and microinflammation.
Read the abstract » | (added 2021-10-13)
Tags: PD, Vitamin D, Inflammatory Markers, Anemia, Oxidative Stress, Microinflammation
PD and home HD patients less stressed by COVID-19
Does the social isolation of PD or home HD contribute to a negative psychosical impact from COVID? Apparently not. Forty patients (85% on home HD) responded to a COVID impact survey sent to 98 home HD and 43 PD patients in Toronto. About 80% rated their dialysis satisfaction at 8/10 or higher, had infrequent anxiety or depression, felt dialysis had minimal impact on their lives, and were almost always happy with their family interactions. Just 9% were often worried about caregiver burden. The authors suggest that home is “the optimal form of dialysis.”
Read the abstract » | (added 2021-10-13)
Tags: Home HD, COVID 19, Coronavirus
Home HD Core Curriculum, 2021
COVID-19 and policy changes have revived interest in home HD, so nephrologists need to better understand the therapy. This article focuses on factors in successful training and retention, including benefits, pitfalls, challenges, new equipment, prescriptions, and more.
Read the abstract » | (added 2021-10-13)
Urgent Start PD: Better Survival, Fewer Complications than Urgent Start HD
A metaanalysis pooling data from seven studies found that urgent start PD was linked with significantly better survival than urgent start HD, though infectious complications were comparable. Urgent start PD had significantly less risk of mechanical complications as well.
Read the abstract » | (added 2021-09-14)
Tags: Urgent start Peritoneal Dialysis, Survival, Urgent Start HD, Mechanical Complications, Infectious Complications
NxStage Outcomes in Spain
The first 86 NxStage users in 12 Spanish dialysis clinics received an adequate dialysis dose, optimal ultrafiltration, improved biochemical markers, and reduced need for antihypertensive drugs, binders, and erythropoietin. Patient and technique survival were both good.
Read the abstract » | (added 2021-09-14)
Tags: Adequate Dialysis Dose, Optimal Ultrafiltration, Biochemical Markers, Antihypertensive Drugs, Binders, Erythropoietin. Patient Survival, Technique Survival
Lessons from Europe: How to Grow PD
Analysis of 575 survey responses to a hypothetical case study of an unplanned dialysis start found that about 1/3 would recommend emergent start PD. About another 1/3 would start unplanned HD—and plan to educate about PD later. Predialysis education about PD, dedicated PD catheter placement teams, and other initiatives were most helpful.
Read the abstract » | (added 2021-09-14)
Tags: Peritoneal Dialysis, Emergent Start PD, Unplanned HD, PD Incidence, PD Prevalence
PD After Transplant Failure
We know that PD helps preserve residual kidney function longer: will this work after a failed transplant, too? An 8-year chart review study found no difference between technique survival, peritonitis-free survival, and residual urine in patients with transplant failure who returned to PD (n=18) vs. those who started PD for other reasons (n=163).
Read the abstract » | (added 2021-09-14)
Tags: PD, Residual Kidney Function, Failed Transplant, Technique Survival, Diuresis
Learn About PD on YouTube
People cannot choose PD if they do not know it exists. A study assessing 295 YouTube PD videos found that those targeted to professionals had higher information quality than those aimed at consumers. More easy-to-understand PD videos that describe benefits are needed, and could help to raise awareness of this option.
Read the abstract » | (added 2021-09-14)
Tags: PD Awareness, PD Videos, PD Benefits