An evaluation of blood volume changes during ultrafiltration pulses and natriuretic peptides in the assessment of dry weight in hemodialysis patients.

Changes in blood volume (BV) during dialysis as well as plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal (NT) pro-BNP levels are possible tools to assess dry weight in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of the study was to compare these parameters with other non-invasive techniques used to assess dry weight in HD patients, and to study their relation with intradialytic hypotension (IDH) and the presence of cardiovascular disease BV changes during HD, both during regular dialysis and during an ultrafiltration pulse, plasma levels of NT pro-BNP and BNP, and vena cava diameter index (VCDI) were assessed in a cohort of 66 HD patients, which was subdivided according to tertiles of total body water (TBW) corrected for body weight, assessed by bioimpedance analysis. Parameters were also related to the presence of IDH and history of cardiovascular disease.

The relationship between reticulocyte hemoglobin content with C-reactive protein and conventional iron parameters in dialysis patients.

Adequate iron stores are a prerequisite for successful erythropoietin (EPO) therapy in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Nevertheless, iron status estimation in HD patients remains problematic, as most parameters are influenced by inflammation. The reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) has recently been proposed as a useful tool in iron status assessment.

Determinants of arterial distensibility in patients with renal failure.

Background: An increased stiffness of the arterial system is an adverse risk factor for the outcome in patients with renal disease. Few studies have focused on the determinants of an increased arterial stiffness in patients with renal failure. As the percentage of patients with renal failure secondary to vascular disease and/or diabetes mellitus is rapidly growing, and the underlying disease per se may also influence the arterial wall properties, it may also be of interest to study the arterial wall properties in relation to the etiology of kidney disease.