Switch from standard to nocturnal in-center HD reduces left ventricular mass

Among 37 people in the UK who switched from standard in-center HD to 3x/week nocturnal in-center HD, echocardiograms showed significant drops in left ventricular mass after 12 months. This is a good sign that their hearts are healthier and they may live longer.

Read the abstract » | (added 2012-01-26)

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Green dialysis: using solar power for HD

Our own Dr. John Agar and other researchers from Australia report on their experience using the sun to power a dialysis clinic and reduce electricity costs by 76.5% In the second and third decades, the new system will pay for itself and contribute power to the grid.

Read the abstract » | (added 2012-01-26)

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Coiled vs. straight PD catheters—is one better than the other?

Researchers in China randomly assigned 80 people doing PD to a straight or a coiled catheter and looked at results from an 493 more people on PD. No differences were found in migration of the catheter tips, catheter failure, infection, stopping PD, or death between the two types of catheters. In the larger analysis, coiled catheters had far more problems than straight ones.

Read the abstract » | (added 2012-01-26)

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Arterial stiffness is equally high in PD and standard in-center HD

Arteries are supposed to be flexible. In a study of 35 people on PD and 26 doing standard HD, both groups had equally stiff arteries that were more rigid than those of the general public.

Read the abstract » | (added 2012-01-26)

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Green dialysis – reducing energy use and landfill space

Worldwide, dialysis uses an estimated 156 billion liters of water per year, 1.62 billion kilowatt hours of power, and generates 625,000 tons of plastic waste. Our own Dr. John Agar suggests ways to reduce the carbon footprint of dialysis through water conservation, solar power, and other ideas.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-12-22)

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Pregnancy and more dialysis

In general, pregnancy is uncommon in women with ESRD. But more dialysis seems to improve pregnancy outcomes. This review article addresses fertility issues, pregnancy, and suggestions for how to manage dialysis in pregnant women.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-12-22)

Tags: Chronic kidney disease

International practice patterns for "non-conventional" HD

311 nephrologists from around the world took part in an online survey about use of HD options other than standard in-center. Among the respondents, 62.4% used "non-conventional" options: 26.7% used nocturnal HD, 34.4% used short daily HD, and 26% used long standard treatments.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-12-22)

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Cycler PD done longer than manual PD

Among 179 people doing CAPD and 441 using cyclers, survival and the rates of loss of residual kidney function and peritonitis were about the same. But technique survival was significantly better among those who used a cycler.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-12-22)

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Longer life on PD with statins

A study from Korea has found that people on PD who were prescribed statin drugs (used for high cholesterol) had a 41% lower risk of death than those who were not given statins. The effect held true for people who had diabetes as well. Future randomized, controlled studies are suggested.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-12-22)

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Mupirocin beats polysporin triple ointment (P3) for preventing PD catheter infections

In an 18-month long randomized, controlled study, twice as many patients had redness at the PD catheter exit site and more fungal infections occurred in those using P3 than mupirocin.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-12-22)

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