Effects of different hemodialysis modalities combined with low-calcium dialysate on mineral metabolism and vascular calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease.

Objective: This research investigated the effects of different hemodialysis modalities combined with low-calcium dialysate (LCD) on mineral metabolism and vascular calcification (VC) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: General data were collected from 192 cases of MHD patients, who were divided into 4 groups according to the randomized numerical table. Each group was given LCD treatment, and conventional hemodialysis (HD), high-flux HD (HFHD), hemodiafiltration (HDF), and HD + hemoperfusion (HP) were performed, respectively. The patients were dialyzed 3 times per week for 4 h each time, and each group was treated for 6 months. Fasting venous blood was collected. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured by ELISA, calcium (Ca2+), phosphorus (P), Ca2+-P product, serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), β2 microglobulin (β2-MG), and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was determined by turbidimetric assay, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured by autoradiographic immunoassay. To assess the extent of calcification in the iliac artery and abdominal aorta, a multilayer spiral CT device was employed for abdominal scans.

Results: Serum IL-6, hs-CRP, TNF-α, Ca2+, P, Ca2+-P product, SCr, BUN, β2-MG, iPTH, and ALP levels decreased, while 25(OH)D levels increased in the four groups after treatment. The most pronounced effect on the reduction of IL-6, hs-CRP, TNF-α, Ca2+, P, Ca2+-P product, SCr, BUN, β2-MG, iPTH, and ALP was in the HD + HP group, followed by the HDF and HFHD groups, and then by the HD group. The rate of VC in the HDF, HFHD, and HD + HP groups was lower than that in the HD group, and the rate in the HD + HP group was lower than that in the HDF and HFHD groups.

Conclusion: The combination of HD + HP and LCD in treating CKD with MHD is effective, evidently rectifying disruptions in serum Ca2+ and P metabolism, enhancing kidney function, lessening the body's inflammatory response, and lessening VC.