Significant Decreasing Incidence of Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis in the Dutch Population of Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

The Dutch Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis (EPS) Registry was started in 2009. Cases were identified by contacting all Dutch nephrologists twice yearly. The predefined criteria for EPS allowed for inclusion of patients with diagnosed and suspected EPS.

The association between dialysis modality and the risk for dialysis technique and non-dialysis technique-related infections.

Background: Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among dialysis patients. Dialysis modality has been hypothesized to be a potential immunomodulatory factor. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of the first dialysis modality on the risk for infections on dialysis.

How baseline, new-onset, and persistent depressive symptoms are associated with cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality in incident patients on chronic dialysis.

Objective: Depressive symptoms are associated with mortality among patients on chronic dialysis therapy. It is currently unknown how different courses of depressive symptoms are associated with both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality.

Methods: In a Dutch prospective nation-wide cohort study among incident patients on chronic dialysis, 1077 patients completed the Mental Health Inventory, both at 3 and 12months after starting dialysis.

The -174G/C variant of IL6 as risk factor for mortality and technique failure in a large cohort of peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Functional variants in the IL6 gene, in particular the -174G/C polymorphism (rs1800795), affect the mortality risk in dialysis patients. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients harbouring the C allele of the -174G/C polymorphism of IL6 showed faster peritoneal transport. The aim of this study was to investigate this IL6 variant as risk factor for mortality and technique failure in a large cohort of Caucasian PD patients.

Development and validation of the Consumer Quality index instrument to measure the experience and priority of chronic dialysis patients.

Background: Patient experience is an established indicator of quality of care. Validated tools that measure both experiences and priorities are lacking for chronic dialysis care, hampering identification of negative experiences that patients actually rate important.

Methods: We developed two Consumer Quality (CQ) index questionnaires, one for in-centre haemodialysis (CHD) and the other for peritoneal dialysis and home haemodialysis (PHHD) care.

Venous and arterial thrombosis in dialysis patients.

Whether the risk of both venous and arterial thrombosis is increased in dialysis patients as compared to the general population is unknown. In addition, it is unknown which subgroups are at highest risk. Furthermore, it is unknown whether having a history of venous thrombosis or arterial thrombosis prior to dialysis treatment increases mortality risk.

Changes in quality of life over time--Dutch haemodialysis patients and general population compared.

Background: Improving the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for haemodialysis patients is a considerable challenge. The aim of the present study was to compare changes in HRQOL in haemodialysis patients with those observed in the general population over a 10-year period and explore factors that might explain possible differences.

Methods: We compared 126 haemodialysis patients assessed in 1995 in the Netherlands Cooperative Study on the Adequacy of Dialysis-1 (NECOSAD-I) with 515 patients enrolled in 2006 in the ongoing Convective Transport Study (CONTRAST).

Trimestral variations of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α are similarly associated with survival in haemodialysis patients.

Background: The impact of intra-individual changes of inflammatory markers [other than C-reactive protein (CRP)] on mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients is unknown. We therefore studied survival in relation to trimestral variations of CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).

Methods: In 201 prevalent HD patients from the Mapping of Inflammatory Markers in Chronic Kidney Disease cohort, serum CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α were measured 3 months apart and survival was assessed during follow-up.

Variations in C-reactive protein during a single haemodialysis session do not associate with mortality.

Background: An increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels during a single haemodialysis (HD) session has been associated with mortality. These associations, however, are difficult to understand from the current understanding of CRP metabolism.

Methods: In 190 Swedish haemodialysis (HD) patients from the Mapping of Inflammatory Markers in Chronic Kidney Disease (MIMICK) cohort, CRP was measured before and after a HD session.

alpha-Galactosidase A deficiency in Dutch patients on dialysis: a critical appraisal of screening for Fabry disease.

Introduction: Fabry disease or alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-Gal A) deficiency is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder that often leads to renal insufficiency in males and occasionally in females. The disease is rare, but its prevalence may be underestimated due to its variable clinical picture. Enzyme supplementation therapy with rHu-alphaGal A is currently available.