On-line haemodiafiltration versus haemodialysis: stable haematocrit with less erythropoietin and improvement of other relevant blood parameters.

Background: Controlled randomised studies to prove improved cardiovascular stability and improved anaemia management during on-line haemodiafiltration (oHDF) are scarce.

Methods: 70 patients were treated with both haemodialysis (HD) and oHDF in a cross-over design during 2 x 24 weeks at a dialysis dose of eKt/V> or =1.2.

Can sterile and pyrogen-free on-line substitution fluid be routinely delivered? A multicentric study on the microbiological safety of on-line haemodiafiltration.

Background: Microbial contamination is characterized not only by the presence of bacteria, but also by high concentrations of biologically active by-products. They are potentially able to cross ultrafiltration and dialysis membranes and stimulate immunocompetent blood cells to synthesize cytokines. In turn, cytokine induction causes acute symptoms and has been incriminated in the long-term complications of haemodialysis patients.

[Changes in body fluid compartments estimated by multifrequency bioelectric impedance analysis in patients treated by hemodialysis].

Bioimpedance is a simple non-invasive method of assessing body composition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of changes in body fluid related to haemodialysis on measured bioimpedance parameters, to determine correlation between bioimpedance data and the volume of ultrafiltratum, and to collect data on alterations of body fluids resulting from a treatment. Measurements were done on 19 patients (mean age 36.