Multiphasic effects of blood pressure on survival in hemodialysis patients.

Dialysis patients exhibit an inverse, L- or U-shaped association between blood pressure and mortality risk, in contrast to the linear association in the general population. We prospectively studied 9333 hemodialysis patients in France, aiming to analyze associations between predialysis systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and nonfatal cardiovascular endpoints for a median follow-up of 548 days. Blood pressure components were tested against outcomes in time-varying covariate linear and fractional polynomial Cox models.

[Recommendations for the measurement of blood 25-OH vitamin D].

The 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) serum concentration should not be measured to everybody but recommendations for this measurement in several clinical situations are available from numerous guidelines and expert positions. It can be proposed to measure 25OHD in diseases where a target range of 25OHD concentrations associated with better outcomes is defined with a sufficient level of evidence, and when this target concentration is difficult to reach without previous measurement (or may be exceeded in case of too large doses are provided). Many National and International Medical Societies recommend to measure 25OHD at least in any situation of « bone fragility » (defined by a low bone mineral density and/or a low energy fracture), in malabsorptions, in chronic kidney disease, in any « phosphocalcic pathology, in patients with clinical signs of profound vitamin D deficiency or excess, and, more generally in any biological exploration of calcium/phosphorus metabolism that includes the measurement of PTH.

Calcium carbonate, but not sevelamer, is associated with better outcomes in hemodialysis patients: results from the French ARNOS study.

A favorable survival effect of phosphate binders (PBs) on incident hemodialysis (HD) patients was recently reported, but no definitive advantages of calcium-based or noncalcium-based PBs have been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the prescription of PBs using calcium carbonate (CaCO(3) ) or sevelamer HCl (SV) on survival. Baseline PB prescription was recorded using a cross-sectional analysis of prevalent HD patients from the regional Association Régionale des Néphrologues OStéodystrophie French cohort.

[Questions about the ADVANCE study].

The symptoms of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) were substantially changed by the availability of cinacalcet (CC). The recent ADVANCE study, which was a prospective randomized trial comparing two treatment strategies-CC plus low doses of calcitriol analogues (CA) versus higher doses of CA without CC-reports the absence of difference in the primary endpoint, i.e.

[How to manage mineral metabolism disorders in renal failure].

Mineral metabolism abnormalities are frequently observed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The bone and cardiovascular consequences should lead to the implementation of some adapted strategies for the prevention and treatment on the basis of the physiopathology of the disease and international recommendations. Biological bone markers such as serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are necessary to classify bone diseases without the need for bone biopsy.

[Clinical and biological forms of secondary hyperparathyroidism in dialysis patients].

The diagnosis and treatment of hyperparathyroidism (HPT) are not yet well standardized in chronic renal failure patients. The aim of this study was to identify the main types of HPT on the basis of clinical and biological findings in a haemodialysis population. Between 2004 and 2010, all patients undergoing haemodialysis were observed and treated using the same strategy: conventional therapy with vitamin D supplements, phosphate binders, dialysate calcium adjusted to serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level and calcitriol analogues (CA), along with regular bone marker analysis.

Association between very low PTH levels and poor survival rates in haemodialysis patients: results from the French ARNOS cohort.

Introduction: A very low parathyroid hormone (PTH) level (VLPL) is associated with an increased risk of adynamic bone disease, vascular calcification, and mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency, the associated factors, and the prognosis of non-surgical VLPL in a cohort of prevalent HD patients.

Methods: In July 2005, a cross-sectional study was performed on the French ARNOS cohort in 1,348 prevalent HD patients from 24 dialysis centres in the Rhône-Alpes area.

Impact of hypovitaminosis D and alfacalcidol therapy on survival of hemodialysis patients: results from the French ARNOS study.

Background: In chronic kidney disease and dialysis patients, vitamin D deficiency is associated with mortality. In some observational studies, calcitriol analogue therapy was associated with a better survival rate in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels and alfacalcidol therapy with HD patients' outcomes.

Prevention of secondary hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients: the key role of native vitamin D supplementation.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a frequent complication in chronic kidney disease, especially in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Treatments for SHPT include calcitriol analogues (CA), phosphate binders, cinacalcet (CC), and surgical parathyroidectomy (PTX). This study aimed to assess the incidence and prevalence of SHPT in a single center during the period when native vitamin D (N-VitD) supplementation and CC treatment became available.

[Calciphylaxis in dialysis patients: To recognize and treat it as soon as possible].

Calciphylaxis (CPX) or calcific uraemic arteriolopathy is a rare life-threatening complication, affecting mainly dialysis patients. The condition is characterized by calcifications and thrombosis of the small cutaneous vessels and small vessels in the fat tissue, resulting in the development of necrotizing and non-healing ulcers. The development of these lesions leads to poor outcomes owing to infectious complications and some frequently associated unfavourable medical conditions: obesity, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease.

[The French clinician's guide to the Kidney disease: Improving global outcomes (KDIGO) for chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD)].

The new recommendations of "Kidney disease: improving global outcomes" for the definition and classification of chronic kidney disease and mineral and bone disorders were released in August 2009. We report the most important of these recommendations and a brief comment from a clinician's point of view. The main points to be noted with regard to the new recommendations are as follows: serum calcium should be in the normal range; phosphorus concentration should be lowered toward the normal range and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels should be two to nine times the upper limit of the normal range; bone remodelling can be assessed using alkaline phosphatase; the use of calcium-phosphorus (Ca x P) product as an index is not recommended anymore; at any stage of CKD, vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency must be corrected; vascular calcification should be detected in a simple way using lateral abdominal radiography and echocardiography; a bone biopsy should be performed before therapy with bisphosphonates; the prescription of dialysate calcium should be individualized within the range of 1.

[Treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism resistant to conventional therapy and tertiary hyperparathyroidism with Cinacalcet: an efficiency strategy].

Introduction: The treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in dialysis patients has changed with the introduction of cinacalcet (CC), which represents a medical alternative to surgical parathyroidectomy (PTX). The aim of our study is to prospectively assess the tolerance and efficacy of CC in patients, treated in one centre using long haemodialysis, with SHPT who do not respond to conventional therapy.

Patients And Methods: We prospectively observed all patients treated with CC between September 2004 and 2009.

Managing dry weight and hypertension in dialysis patients: still a challenge for the nephrologist in 2009?

Hypertension prevalence is high in both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients. Among several possible mechanisms leading to hypertension in chronic kidney disease, the most important is the positive balance of sodium and accumulation of extracellular fluid causing cardiovascular remodeling. Hypertension may provoke de novo left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac failure in dialysis patients and is also associated with a higher risk of stroke.

[Can the hemodialysis strategy influence the nutritional status of hemodialysis patients?].

Malnutrition is frequent in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The HEMO study has shown a progressive decline of nutritional markers, such as body weight, albuminemia and protein intake, in prevalent hemodialysis patients during a 3-year follow-up. In incident dialysis patients, nutritional status usually improves during the first year of HD treatment.

[How valid are food surveys run by dieticians?].

International recommendations for dialysis treatment include food surveys among the necessary tools for nutritional status evaluation. Several methods are used: 24-hour food recall, 7-day food diary, 3-day food record, food frequency questionnaire, and the most innovative, pictures of the ingested food shot and sent to the dietician with a mobile phone. The information from these surveys is run on software that calculates the amount of ingested nutriments.

Treating mineral metabolism disorders in patients undergoing long hemodialysis: a search for an optimal strategy.

In hemodialysis (HD) patients, mineral metabolism (MM) disorders have been associated with an increased mortality rate. We report the evolution of MM parameters in a stable HD population undergoing long hemodialysis by performing an annual cross-sectional analysis for every year from 1994 to 2008. The therapeutic strategy has changed: the dialysate calcium concentration has decreased from a mean of 1.

[Guidelines for vitamin D prescription in dialysis patients].

The vitamin D hormonal system is involved in the regulation of more than 800 genes. Vitamin D deficiency, which is evaluated on the basis of the serum level of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25[OH]D), is frequently observed in the general population, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of falls and fracture and also with diabetes, malignancies, autoimmune diseases, depression and mortality.

The plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide is increased in malnourished hemodialysis patients.

Background: In hemodialysis (HD) patients, the plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level is associated with left ventricular dysfunction and patients' survival. Malnutrition is common in HD patients, it is associated with inflammation and contributes to the high incidence of cardiovascular (CV) disease in this setting (malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis syndrome). In a cross-sectional study, we assessed the relationship between predialysis plasma BNP level and nutritional markers in chronic HD patients.

Monthly cholecalciferol administration in haemodialysis patients: a simple and efficient strategy for vitamin D supplementation.

Background: There is growing evidence of the usefulness of vitamin D supplementation in dialysis patients who are most often vitamin D deficient. Due to the long half-life of vitamin D, there is much interest in administering it intermittently for long-term adherence. However, there are no data to indicate which dosage would be most efficient.

High levels of serum fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 are associated with increased mortality in long haemodialysis patients.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23, a novel bone-derived phosphaturic factor involved in mineral metabolism, is increased in chronic kidney disease (CKD); in dialysis patients, it has been linked to increased mortality rates and vascular calcification (VC). The present investigation aimed to study the factors associated with elevated serum FGF-23 levels in patients treated with long haemodialysis (LHD) sessions and to determine whether a relationship exists between serum FGF-23 levels and patient survival.

Methods: All patients treated in one haemodialysis centre from September 2006 were included in the study.

[An efficient strategy to decrease the central venous catheter-related adverse events rate in haemodialysis patients].

Introduction: Catheter-related adverse events (CAE) remain a major cause of mortality and morbidity.

Aim: We aimed to compare the CAE prevalence and adverse events rate at 10 years interval in one centre using different devices, dressing procedures.

Methods: We compared two periods, from 1994 to 1997 (period 1) and from 2004 to 2007 (period 2).