B-type natriuretic peptide and interdialytic fluid retention are independent and incremental predictors of mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Aim: Management of fluid homeostasis remains a major challenge in hemodialysis patients. We aimed to establish whether the cardiac strain marker B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) could help to identify hypervolemic patients at increased risk of death.

Methods: BNP levels were determined before dialysis in the entire HD population at our institution (n = 57).

Patients' representations of their end-stage renal disease: relation with mortality.

Background: Self-regulation theory explains how patients' illness perceptions influence self-management behaviour (e.g. via adherence to treatment).

Effect of prescribing a high protein diet and increasing the dose of dialysis on nutrition in stable chronic haemodialysis patients: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Protein requirements in stable, adequately dialysed haemodialysis patients are not known and recommendations vary. It is not known whether increasing the dialysis dose above the accepted adequate level has a favourable effect on nutrition. The aim of this study was to determine whether prescribing a high protein diet and increasing the dose of dialysis would have a favourable effect on dietary protein intake and nutritional status in stable, adequately dialysed haemodialysis patients.

The mechanism and diagnostic value of angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibition renography.

The effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition on the sensitivity of radionuclide renography in the diagnosis of a unilateral renal artery stenosis was tested both in a conscious dog model and in the human situation. ACE inhibition (10 mg enalaprilic acid, intravenously) markedly improved the sensitivity of [123I]hippuran renography in 10 renovascular hypertensive dogs with a mild to moderate unilateral renal artery stenosis from 50 to 100%. This improved sensitivity was due to an ACE-inhibition-induced delayed tracer handling at the stenotic side without an appreciable change in the renographic curve at the contralateral side.