Preferences of patients undergoing hemodialysis - results from a questionnaire-based study with 4,518 patients.

Background: Chronic kidney disease is an increasing health problem worldwide and in its final stage (stage V) can only be treated by renal replacement therapy, mostly hemodialysis. Hemodialysis has a major influence on the everyday life of patients and many patients report dissatisfaction with treatment. Little is known about which aspects of treatment are considered important by hemodialysis patients.

Configural frequency analysis as a method of determining patients' preferred decision-making roles in dialysis.

Background: Numerous studies examined factors in promoting a patient preference for active participation in treatment decision making with only modest success. The purpose of this study was to identify types of patients wishing to participate in treatment decisions as well as those wishing to play a completely active or passive role based on a Germany-wide survey of dialysis patients; using a prediction typal analysis method that defines types as configurations of categories belonging to different attributes and takes particularly higher order interactions between variables into account.

Methods: After randomly splitting the original patient sample into two halves, an exploratory prediction configural frequency analysis (CFA) was performed on one-half of the sample (n = 1969) and the identified types were considered as hypotheses for an inferential prediction CFA for the second half (n = 1914).

Poor cell survival limits the beneficial impact of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on acute kidney injury.

Background: Although renal tubular epithelium has a great capacity for repair it has been suggested that the administration of mesenchymal stem cells may accelerate the recovery following severe ischemic injury.

Methods: Here we analyzed the survival rate and organ distribution of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells as well as their contribution to kidney regeneration after ischemic renal injury using functional tests, histological examination as well as quantitative real-time PCR.

Results: Intravenously injected stem cells were mainly trapped in lungs and liver.

Long-term safety and tolerability of epoetin zeta, administered intravenously, for maintenance treatment of renal anemia.

Introduction: The aim of this trial was to gather data on the long-term safety of a new erythropoietin preparation (epoetin zeta), focusing on the formation of anti-erythropoietin antibodies, when administered intravenously for maintenance of target hemoglobin concentration in anemic patients with end-stage renal failure receiving chronic hemodialysis. In addition, we aimed to provide information on the efficacy of epoetin zeta under open, noncontrolled conditions.

Methods: Patients received epoetin zeta intravenously, 1-3 times/week for 56 weeks (overall patient group, n=745) or 108 weeks (Bulgarian subgroup, n=164).

Comparison of the therapeutic effects of epoetin zeta to epoetin alfa in the maintenance phase of renal anaemia treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of epoetin zeta, compared with epoetin alfa, in maintaining target haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations in patients with anaemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) maintained on haemodialysis.

Methods: Patients received epoetin zeta or epoetin alfa intravenously, 1-3 times/week for 12 weeks, then the alternative treatment for 12 weeks, in this double-blind, crossover, phase III trial. Eligible patients were 18-75 years old with CKD stage 5 maintained on haemodialysis.