Predictors of survival in anuric peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Residual glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a much more important determinant of survival in peritoneal dialysis patients, than peritoneal solute clearances. However, anuric peritoneal dialysis patients are solely dependent on peritoneal solute clearances. The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of peritoneal small solute clearances and ultrafiltration on survival in anuric patients, and to establish the minimum levels of small solute clearances and net ultrafiltration.

Determinants of peritoneal solute transport rates in newly started nondiabetic peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objective: An overrepresentation of a fast peritoneal transport status in new peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with extensive comorbidity has been reported in some studies. High mass transfer area coefficients (MTACs) of low MW solutes suggest the presence of a large effective peritoneal surface area. The mechanism is unknown.

Predictors of the rate of decline of residual renal function in incident dialysis patients.

Background: Residual renal function (RRF) influences morbidity, mortality and quality of life in chronic dialysis patients. Few studies have been published on risk factors for loss of RRF in dialysis patients. These studies were either retrospective, performed in a small number of patients, or estimated GFR without a urine collection.

Evaluation of DOQI guidelines: early start of dialysis treatment is not associated with better health-related quality of life.

The National Kidney Foundation-Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative (DOQI) guideline, which is largely opinion based, promotes an earlier initiation of dialysis treatment than usual. Implementation of this guideline would require an expansion of dialysis capacity, leading to a considerable increase in costs. Such an expansion can only be justified by an improvement in patient outcome.

Renal function and nutritional status at the start of chronic dialysis treatment.

Early start of dialysis has been hypothesized to prevent deterioration of nutritional status and to lead to a better clinical outcome. According to the National Kidney Foundation/Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines, dialysis should be started when renal Kt/V(urea) falls below 2.0/wk or the protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance normalized to body weight (nPNA) falls below 0.