Metaanalysis of best practices in pregnancy on dialysis

What works best to ensure a healthy baby if women on dialysis become pregnant? A systematic literature analysis found that long-hour HD has the most support, while correcting vitamin B12, folate, iron, anemia, vitamin D, and calcium levels is also important. Success rates of greater than 75% are possible.

Read the abstract » | (added 2015-06-10)

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Progress toward reengineering catheters to reduce infection

Can we eliminate exit site infections by redesigning catheters? Bioengineers are working on a way to create a biological seal that would keep germs out. A new device being tested uses a removable protective membrane that slowly grows out of the body, leaving a dry groove that reduces infections—at least in goats.

Read the abstract » | (added 2015-06-10)

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Status Report: Home HD in Japan

While just 0.1% of all Japanese people on dialysis use home HD, this number has been growing quickly. Work groups of the Japanese Society for Home Hemodialysis have been set up to start a patient registry and advise on supply and wastes and the cost burden for those who self-pay. Further challenges will include recruitment, education, a business model, and more.

Read the abstract » | (added 2015-06-10)

Tags: Home dialysis

New index more accurate than Kt/V for PD “adequacy”

It’s no secret that we at Home Dialysis Central are not fans of Kt/V for HD (or the concept of “adequacy”). A new European study suggests that Kt/V is not useful for PD, either (because it does not account for protein intake), and has tested a substitute index that works better.

Read the abstract » | (added 2015-05-09)

Tags: Home dialysis

Ultrasound can measure peritoneal wall thickness in children

Fibrosis of the peritoneum can cause PD failure. But, peritoneal wall thickness can be measured with a painless ultrasound. The results can assess whether the peritoneum is changing over time.

Read the abstract » | (added 2015-05-09)

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Home hemodialysis needs you! Special Kidney International supplement.

A special supplement of Kidney International focuses on how to implement home hemodialysis, from policies and procedures to equipment, recruitment, safety, prescription, staffing, and more—from global experts. Don't miss it!

Read the abstract » | (added 2015-05-09)

Tags: Home dialysis

Education can change negative nurse attitudes toward home dialysis

In-center HD nurses tend to prefer…in-center HD. But, their negative attitudes toward home treatments can be modified, a new study shows. In Canada, a 3-hour educational session with CE credits on the benefits of home treatments, myths about patient eligibility, costs, and a testimonial video did the trick.

Read the abstract » | (added 2015-05-09)

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Dosage of Tamiflu® for people on PD

A new study finds that a single, 75mg dose of oseltamivir may be enough for people on PD who don’t have residual kidney function. The more residual function people had, the more efficiently the drug was removed—so more was needed for an optimal response.

Read the abstract » | (added 2015-05-09)

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Gene therapy via nanoparticles reduces peritoneal fibrosis in mice

Gene therapies may reduce peritoneal fibrosis—a leading cause of PD failure. Delivering transforming growth factor using nanoparticles worked in a mouse study.

Read the abstract » | (added 2015-05-09)

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Glucose challenge test (GCT) detects glucose metabolism disorders in PD

When glucose-based PD fluid is used, it can be a challenge to see if there are blood sugar issues. In 20 people on PD who did not have a history of diabetes, an initial GCT detected impaired glucose tolerance in eleven and diabetes mellitus in four. About 2 years later, twelve patients had glucose metabolism disorders—but none had diabetes.

Read the abstract » | (added 2015-05-09)

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