It is Time to Individualize the Dialysate Sodium Prescription.

Sodium mass balance in hemodialysis patients is primarily dependent on dietary salt intake and sodium removal during dialysis. One of the most important goals of dialysis therapy is to fully remove the mass of sodium that has accumulated in the interdialytic period. It is currently the practice in dialysis centers all over the world to use a standardized dialysate sodium concentration (Na(+) D) for all patients.

A neglected issue in dialysis practice: haemodialysate.

The intended function of dialysate fluid is to correct the composition of uraemic blood to physiologic levels, both by reducing the concentration of uraemic toxins and correcting electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities. This is accomplished principally by formulating a dialysate whose constituent concentrations are set to approximate normal values in the body. Sodium balance is the cornerstone of intradialysis cardiovascular stability and good interdialytic blood pressure control; plasma potassium concentration and its intradialytic kinetics certainly play a role in the genesis of cardiac arrhythmias; calcium is related to haemodynamic stability, mineral bone disease and also cardiac arrhythmias; the role of magnesium is still controversial; lastly, acid buffering by means of base supplementation is one of the major roles of dialysis.

High convection volume in online post-dilution haemodiafiltration: relevance, safety and costs.

Increasing evidence suggests that treatment with online post-dilution haemodiafiltration (HDF) improves clinical outcome in patients with end-stage kidney disease, if compared with haemodialysis (HD). Although the primary analyses of three large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed inconclusive results, post hoc analyses of these and previous observational studies comparing online post-dilution HDF with HD showed that the risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality is lowest in patients who are treated with high-volume HDF. As such, the magnitude of the convection volume seems crucial and can be considered as the 'dose' of HDF.

Preoperative assessment and planning of haemodialysis vascular access.

Effective haemodialysis (HD) requires a reliable vascular access (VA). Clinical practice guidelines strongly recommend the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as the preferred VA in HD patients. The creation of an AVF should be promoted in all eligible patients who choose HD, as it improves outcomes and reduces costs when compared with central venous catheters.

High versus low dialysate sodium concentration in chronic haemodialysis patients: a systematic review of 23 studies.

Background: It is the object of debate whether a low or high dialysate sodium concentration (DNa(+)) should be advocated in chronic haemodialysis patients. In this paper, we aimed at evaluating benefits and harms of different DNa(+) prescriptions through a systematic review of the available literature.

Methods: MEDLINE and CENTRAL databases were searched for studies comparing low or high DNa(+) prescriptions.

Efficacy and Safety of a New Technique of Conversion from Temporary to Tunneled Central Venous Catheters.

The usually applied conversion technique from temporary to tunneled central venous catheters (CVCs) using the same venous insertion site requires a peel-away sheath. We propose a conversion technique without peel-away sheath: a guide wire is advanced through the existing temporary CVC; then, a subcutaneous tunnel is created from the exit to the venotomy site. After removing the temporary CVC, the tunneled one is advanced along the guide wire.

Probing the dry weight by bioimpedance: the resistance stabilization test.

Probing dry weight (DW) was largely dependent on clinical subjective estimate until recently. New bedside non-invasive tools have been developed with the aim of providing more objective information on volume status and guiding physicians in the quest for DW. Among them, bioimpedance appears to be very promising in the achievement of this goal.

The key role of color Doppler ultrasound in the work-up of hemodialysis vascular access.

Vascular access (VA) is the lifeline for the hemodialysis patient and the native arterio-venous fistula (AVF) is the first-choice access. Among the different tests used in the VA domain, color Doppler ultrasound (CD-US) plays a key role in the clinical work-up. At the present time, three are the main fields of CD-US application: (i) evaluation of forearm arteries and veins in surgical planning; (ii) testing of AVF maturation; (iii) VA complications.

Physical activity in chronic kidney disease: a plausible approach to vascular calcification?

Vascular calcification (VC) is a prominent feature that affects up to 40 to 80% of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients depending on the degree of renal impairment. Though etiology and pathogenesis of the different types of VC are far from being elucidated, it is conceivable that an imbalance between promoters and inhibitors represents the condition that triggers VC deposition and progression. In addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, several lines of evidence suggest that specific factors may affect the arterial system and prognosis in CKD.

Fibromuscular dysplasia of renal arteries presenting with bilateral renal infarction in a young man.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) describes a group of conditions which cause nonatheromatous arterial stenoses, most commonly of the renal and carotid arteries, typically in young women. We report the case of a previously healthy 43-year-old white man presenting with acute bilateral flank pain. The pain was more severe on the left side.

Sodium setpoint and gradient in bicarbonate hemodialysis.

Background: The demonstration of an individual osmolar setpoint in hemodialysis (HD) is crucial to individualize dialysate sodium concentrations. Furthermore, the diffusive gradient between plasma and dialysate sodium is important in the "fine tuning" of the intradialytic sodium mass balance (MB).

Methods: The design of this study included part A: a retrospective analysis of predialysis plasma sodium concentrations extracted from a 6-year database in our HD population (147 prevalent white anuric patients); and part B: study of intradialytic sodium kinetics in 48 patients undergoing one 4-hour bicarbonate HD session.

The systemic capillary leak syndrome: a scarcely known nephrological entity.

The idiopathic systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a rare life-threatening disorder characterized by periodic episodes of hypovolemic shock, due to plasma leakage from the intravascular to the interstitial space, as reflected by accompanying hypoalbuminemia, hemoconcentration and edema. Here we report the case of a 65-year-old woman affected by SCLS who required aggressive resuscitation with norepinephrine, steroids, albumin and crystalloids. Then, a long-term prophylaxis with a ß(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist and theophylline was started.

Effect of dialysate calcium concentrations on parathyroid hormone and calcium balance during a single dialysis session using bicarbonate hemodialysis: a crossover clinical trial.

Background: In bicarbonate-based hemodialysis, dialysate total calcium (tCa) concentration may have effects on mineral metabolism.

Study Design: Randomized crossover trial of 3 dialysate tCa concentrations (2.5, 2.

Effects of different dialysate calcium concentrations on intradialysis hemodynamic stability.

Background: The interplay of correct solute mass balances, such as those of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and total calcium (tCa) (Na+MB, K+MB and tCaMB, respectively) with adequate ultrafiltration volumes (VUF) is crucial to achieving hemodynamic stability during hemodialysis (HD).

Methods: Twenty-two stable anuric uremic patients underwent three 4-hour bicarbonate HD sessions, each with a different dialysate tCa concentration (1.25, 1.

Bioimpedance and the duration of the hemodialysis session.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is composed of resistance (R) and reactance (Xc). The aim of this study was to investigate whether BIA may be influenced by the duration of hemodialysis (HD) sessions. Eleven uremic patients underwent one 4-hour and one 8-hour bicarbonate HD session.

Calcium mass balances in bicarbonate hemodialysis.

Dialysate calcium (Ca) concentration should be viewed as part of the integrated therapeutic regimen to control renal osteodystrophy and maintain normal mineral metabolism. The goals of this integrated approach are to keep the patient in a mild positive Ca mass balance (CaMB), to maintain normal serum Ca levels, to control plasma parathyroid hormone values to two to three times above normal levels, and to avoid soft-tissue calcifications. Thus, a correct net CaMB during hemodialysis (HD) is crucial in the treatment of renal osteodystrophy.

Calcium mass balances during standard bicarbonate hemodialysis and long-hour slow-flow bicarbonate hemodialysis.

Background: Dialysate calcium (Ca) concentration should be viewed as part of the integrated therapeutic regimen to control renal osteodystrophy and maintain normal mineral metabolism. Thus, a correct ionized calcium mass balance (Ca++MB) during hemodialysis (HD) is crucial in the treatment of renal osteodystrophy. The GENIUS single-pass batch dialysis system (Fresenius Medical Care, Germany) consists of a closed dialysate tank of 90 L; it offers the opportunity of effecting mass balances of any solute in a very precise way.

The mckittrick-wheelock syndrome: a rare cause of severe hydroelectrolyte disorders and acute renal failure.

The McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome is a rare cause of severe hydroelectrolyte disorders and fluid depletion as a result of rectal tumor hypersecretion, which can lead to acute renal failure. We report the case of a 70-year-old female who presented with hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and acute renal failure, due to a watery, mucinous diarrhea. A large rectal villous adenoma was discovered on ileocolonoscopy, and definitive management was achieved by removal of the tumor.