The Emboless® venous chamber efficiently reduces air bubbles: a randomized study of chronic hemodialysis patients.

Background: When blood passes the extracorporeal circuit, air microbubbles (MBs) contaminate the blood. Some MBs will end up as microemboli in the lung, heart, and brain. MB exposure has no medical purpose and is considered to be bio-incompatible.

Hemodialysis patients have signs of a chronic thrombotic burden.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the dominant cause of morbidity in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Unless sufficient anticoagulation is used during HD, clotting may appear. The objective was to investigate if levels of fibrin degradation products (D-dimer) were increased before and during HD.

Changes in Numbers of Glomerular Macrophages Between Two Consecutive Biopsies and the Association With Renal Transplant Graft Survival.

Background: Macrophages are involved in kidney transplants. The aim of the study was to investigate if changes exist in the levels of glomerular macrophage index (GMI) between two consecutive kidney transplant biopsies, and if so to determine their potential impact on graft survival.

Methods: Two consecutive biopsies were performed on the same renal graft in 623 patients.

Lipid and Bone Effects of Heparin Use During Hemodialysis.

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) are commonly prescribed anticoagulants for chronic hemodialysis (HD). The dialysis population comprises a unique group that receives heparin three times per week for a long period, with potential long-term cumulative metabolic effects such as osteoporosis and worsening lipid profile. HD patients have approximately half the number of lipases as healthy individuals, and their lipid metabolism is limited because of this decrease as well as partially inhibited function.