Compatibility and stability of non-ionic iodinated contrast media in peritoneal dialysis solution and safe practice considerations for CT peritoneography.

Background: Computerised tomographic (CT) peritoneography is performed on peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients to identify peritoneal boundary defects, dialysate maldistributions and loculated fluid collections. Iodinated contrast media are added to dialysate and infused through the dialysis catheter, and CT images are obtained. Chemical compatibility of contrast media with dialysis solutions has not been studied.

Contrasting Perceptions of Home Dialysis Therapies Among In-Center and Home Dialysis Staff.

Home dialysis offers many advantages over in-center dialysis, but peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis are infrequently used. To better understand why, a survey of dialysis healthcare professionals (N = 273) in the United States was conducted to assess their knowledge, perceptions, and beliefs about home dialysis modalities. Most survey respondents demonstrated a lack of knowledge about home dialysis and perceived many barriers to home therapy, which may affect patient modality choice; however, 90% of respondents stated they would choose home dialysis for themselves if they required dialysis.

Volume-Based Peritoneal Dialysis Prescription Guide to Achieve Adequacy Targets.

Unlabelled: ♦

Background: The use of automated and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (APD and CAPD) prescriptions (Rxs) to achieve adequate uremic toxin and fluid removal targets is important for attaining optimal patient outcomes. One approach for predicting such Rxs is the use of kinetic modeling. ♦

Methods: Demographic data and peritoneal membrane characteristics derived from a peritoneal equilibration test (PET) were available from 1,005 patients in North American centers who participated in a national adequacy initiative in 1999.

Steady state phosphorus mass balance model during hemodialysis based on a pseudo one-compartment kinetic model.

Purpose: Mathematical models of phosphorus kinetics and mass balance during hemodialysis are in early development. We describe a theoretical phosphorus steady state mass balance model during hemodialysis based on a novel pseudo one-compartment kinetic model.

Methods: The steady state mass balance model accounted for net intestinal absorption of phosphorus and phosphorus removal by both dialysis and residual kidney function.

Assessing creatinine clearance from modification of diet in renal disease study equations in the ADEMEX cohort: limitations and potential applications.

Background And Objectives: Twenty-four-hour urine and dialysate collections provide accepted means to assess adequacy in peritoneal dialysis (PD). Recent publications suggest that creatinine clearance (CrCl) estimated from the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations (eCrCl) accurately approximates measured CrCl (mCrCl) derived from 24-hour collections of urine and dialysate and might serve as an alternative means to assess small-solute clearance and adequacy in PD.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Post hoc analysis of data from patients enrolled in ADEMEX was used to assess agreement between mCrCl and eCrCl derived by four- and six-variable MDRD equations (4V-MDRDE and 6V-MDRDE, respectively).

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in a patient treated with imatinib mesylate: true association or mere coincidence?

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), characterized by thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, is a relatively rare disorder. The majority of cases have no defined causes. TTP has been reported in association with many drugs, but not with imatinib mesylate.

Achieving K/DOQI laboratory target values for bone and mineral metabolism: an uphill battle.

Background: The National Kidney Foundation has recently published the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). According to these guidelines, in patients with stage 5 CKD, the adjusted calcium level should be 8.4- 9.

Routine replacement of tunneled, cuffed, hemodialysis catheters eliminates paraspinal/vertebral infections in patients with catheter-associated bacteremia.

Background: Management of tunneled, cuffed, central venous catheters in hemodialysis (HD) patients with bacteremia remains a challenge. Attempts to salvage the catheter with systemic antibiotics alone have been associated with increased risk of metastatic infectious complications.

Methods: Retrospective case series of patients with infectious complications in a chronic dialysis unit, affiliated with a tertiary care university hospital.

Prophylaxis of hemodialysis graft thrombosis with fish oil: double-blind, randomized, prospective trial.

Diets enriched with fish oil may favorably affect the vascular perturbations underlying synthetic graft thrombosis. Therefore, these studies were designed to test the hypothesis that diets enriched with fish oil would decrease the incidence of thrombosis in newly constructed polytetrafluorethylene grafts. A double-blind, randomized trial was conducted.