Osmolal gap in hemodialyzed uremic patients.

Osmolality is an expression of the number of particles in a given weight of solvent (mOsm). Measured osmolality is determined by the osmometer, and calculated osmolality is estimated by 2xNa + UN/2.8 + glucose/18.

Monocyte expression of adhesion molecules during low- and high-flux polysulfone hemodialysis and the effect of atorvastatin administration.

Background/aims: Aims of the present study are to examine the effects of atorvastatin administration and the influence of membrane flux on adhesion molecules expression on monocytes.

Methods: We studied CD11b, CD18 and CD62L expression on monocytes (flow cytometry) in 32 patients, 16 on low-flux (LFD) and 16 on high-flux (HFD) polysulfone hemodialysis, before and after dialysis and also after administration of atorvastatin 20 mg/day for 6 months.

Results: After hemodialysis, expression of CD11b and CD18 increased and expression of CD62L decreased.

INR deviations in hemodialyzed patients under low dose oral anticoagulant therapy.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the International Normalized Ratio (INR) in hemodialyzed uremic patients under treatment with oral anticoagulation drugs. Eleven out of one hundred and forty-two uremic hemodialyzed patients in our unit were included in the study. These 11 patients aged from 70 to 85 (mean: 76 years) were under oral anticoagulation treatment for protection from thromboembolic events.