Comparative crossover controlled study using polysulphone and vitamin E coated dialyzers.

Objective: There is relatively little clinical experience reported on the use of the vitamin E coated dialyzer (CL-EE12, Terumo). This study compares its efficacy and intradialytic symptoms with a polysulphone dialyzer in 2 groups of patients in a controlled crossover trial design.

Methods: This study was carried out at the Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the time period January to March 2002.

Long-term intravenous calcitriol in secondary hyperparathyroidism: the role of technetium-99m-MIBI scintigraphy in predicting the response to treatment.

Background: Despite the effectiveness of intravenous calcitriol in suppressing parathyroid hormone secretion in patients with uremic hyperparathyroidism, 50% of the patients remain refractory to this treatment. There are conflicting reports regarding the factors that can predict the response to treatment. Technetium-99m-MIBI scintigraphy was found to be correlated with functional activity of the parathyroid gland.