Ethanol combined with heparin as a locking solution for the prevention of catheter related blood stream infections in hemodialysis patients: A prospective randomized study.

Introduction: Ethanol lock solution has been mainly administered in paediatric and home parenteral nutrition patients in order to prevent catheter related blood stream infections (CRBSI). Its utility in hemodialysis (HD) patients with non-tunneled-uncuffed catheter (NTC) has been poorly explored.

Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized study in chronic HD patients requiring a newly inserted NTC-while awaiting for the maturation of an already established arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or arteriovenous graft (AVG) or tunneled-cuffed catheter insertion.

Strong correlation of B2-microglobulin (B2-m) with procalcitonin (PCT) in the serum of chronic hemodialysis patients: a role for infections in the dialysis-related amyloidosis?

Introduction: Infections trigger the activation of defensive cells capable to produce and release B(2)-microglobulin (B(2)-m). Procalcitonin (PCT), secreted by a wide range of human cells, included the aforementioned defensive cells, is generally considered a sensitive and specific marker of infection. In this prospective study, we examined the possibility that infections, as detected by increased levels of PCT, increase the serum levels of B(2)-m in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients, possibly affecting the rate of progression of dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA).