Improved management of intradialytic hypotension (IDH) using vitamin E-bonded polysulfone membrane dialyzer.

Background: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a common clinical trait in hemodialysis (HD) which is caused by poor biocompatibility of the dialyzer membrane. Aiming to improve IDH, vitamin E-bonded polysulfone dialyzer (VPS-H) was evaluated in a pilot study.

Methods: Eight IDH patients on standard HD were switched from their conventional high-flux dialyzers to VPS-H, and intradialytic blood pressure (BP) was monitored regularly for 10 months.

Effects of a new maintenance fluid containing sodium acetate as the base component and electrolytes during renal biopsies in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis.

A new maintenance fluid containing sodium acetate as the base component and electrolytes (Veen 3G, test preparation) for a maximum of 24 h was infused to 15 patients hospitalized for renal biopsies and requiring intravenous supplements of water, electrolytes and energy because oral or enteric ingestion was inadequate or impossible. A physical examination, blood chemistry tests and urinalysis were performed, and the global improvement rating was obtained by scoring the effects on a) maintenance of cardiovascular hemodynamics (systolic blood pressure), b) blood glucose control (blood glucose level), c) utilization of sugar (free fatty acids, total ketone bodies), d) maintenance of serum electrolytes, e) amount of sugar excreted in the urine and f) maintenance of urinary volume. The results were excellent or good in all of the 15 patients analyzed.

Effect of pioglitazone on carotid intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetic nephropathy patients.

Atherosclerosis is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes, and pioglitazone has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and potential antiatherogenic effects. The aim of the present study was to determine whether pioglitazone, glibenclamide, or voglibose affects carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in normotensive type 2 diabetic nephropathy patients. Forty-five normotensive type 2 diabetes patients with microalbuminuria were randomized to 12-month treatment with pioglitazone (30 mg/d, n = 15), glibenclamide (5 mg/d, n = 15), or voglibose (0.

Increased endothelin: nitric oxide ratio is associated with erythropoietin-induced hypertension in hemodialysis patients.

Regular administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is frequently associated with a rise in arterial blood pressure in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of rHuEPO on plasma endothelin (ET)-1 and nitric oxide products (NOx) concentration in HD patients. Fifteen patients on maintenance HD with hematocrit of less than 25% were included in the present study.

Effects of LDL apheresis and vitamin E-modified membrane on carotid atherosclerosis in hemodialyzed patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans.

Background: Hemodialysis patients manifest accelerated atherosclerosis. Hemodialysis is associated with oxidative stress, which can be partially prevented with the use of a vitamin E-coated dialyzer. Adsorption of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been applied in the treatment of arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO).