Impact of peritoneal dialysis strategy on technique and patient survival.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of peritoneal dialysis (PD) strategy on technique and patient survival. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study conducted on consecutive patients with chronic kidney disease who underwent PD between January 2009 and December 2019. The study sample was stratified into four different groups according to PD technique [automated (APD) or manual (CAPD)] and icodextrin use (yes versus no). The primary endpoints were survival of both technique and patient. Results: A total of 531 patients were included in the analysis. Mean ± standard deviation age was 60.6 ± 14.6 years, 68.4% (363) were men and 34.8% (185) had diabetes. The median technique survival time was 19 (15) months. A total of 185 (34.8%), 96 (18.1%), 99 (18.7%) and 151 (28.4%) patients were included in the CAPD/No-Icodextrin, CAPD/Icodextrin, APD/No-Icodextrin and APD/Icodextrin study groups, respectively. Throughout the study, 180 (33.9%) patients underwent renal transplant, 71 (13.4%) were changed to hemodialysis and 151 (28.4%) died. Age [hazard ratio (HR) 0.975, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.960-0.990, P = .001] and incidence of early peritoneal infection (HR 2.440, 95% CI 1.453-4.098, P = .001) were associated with technique survival, while age (HR 1.029, 95% CI 1.013-1.045, P < .001), Charlson Index (HR 1.192, 95% CI 1.097-1.295, P < 0.001), use of icodextrin (HR 0.421, 95% CI 0.247-0.710, P < .001) and APD/Icodextrin (HR 0.499, 95% CI 0.322-0.803, P = .005) were associated with patient survival. Conclusions: Icodextrin use and APD/Icodextrin had a positive impact on patient survival, while older age and higher Charlson Index had a negative one. Age and incidence of early peritoneal infection significantly impacted on technique survival.

The 'Phosphorus Week': involvement of Spanish nephrologists in the control of phosphorus blood levels.

BACKGROUND: The adequate control of phosphorus levels is a major concern for professionals involved in the care of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), since high phosphorus levels are directly related to an increase in mortality. OBJECTIVES: To know the perception and involvement of Spanish nephrologists on the control of phosphorus levels, the so-called 'Phosphorus Week' was organized (November 13-17, 2017). METHODS: All members of the Spanish Society of Nephrology were invited to participate in an online survey, which included questions on aspects related to phosphorus control in patients with advanced CKD (aCKD) (glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/min/1, 73 m2) and in the different modalities of renal replacement therapies [peritoneal dialysis (PD), hemodialysis (HD) and renal transplantation (KT)]. RESULTS: 72 data entries were obtained in the survey with an inclusion of 7463 patients. Of them, 35.4% were on HD, 34.8% were KT, 24.2% had aCKD and 5.5% were on PD. The serum phosphorus level target for the four groups of patients was 4.5 mg/dl, with minimal variations depending on the area of ​​the national territory. The patients with better control of phosphataemia were patients with KT (93.3% had phosphorus values ​​<4.5 mg/dl), followed by patients with aCKD (65.6% with phosphorus <4.5 mg/dl). Only 53.6% of the patients on HD and 39.4% of those on PD reached the phosphorus goal <4.5 mg/dl. The group of patients on dialysis was the one in whom phosphorus binders prescribed the most (73.5% and 75.6% in HD and PD, respectively), being less frequent in patients with patients with aCKD (39.9%) and only 4.5 % in KT. CONCLUSIONS: The objectives of the Spanish nephrologists are in line with those recommended by the national and international clinical guidelines; however, there is still a wide room for improvement to achieve these goals, especially in HD and PD patients.

Incidence of Hypersensitivity Reactions During Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A recent alert from Spanish health authorities warned of a higher incidence of reported hypersensitivity reactions to hemodialysis membranes with polysulfone, in the 2017 review of acute reactions to dialyzers found only published reports in the 21st century on polysulfone and its derivatives. The aim is to assess/evaluate the current incidence and characteristics of hypersensitivity reactions in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: A retrospective multicentre study in 9 Spanish hospitals evaluated patients in whom a hypersensitivity reaction required a change in dialyzer membrane. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients out of 1561 (2.37%) had hypersensitivity reactions and clinical, epidemiological and analytical data were available for 33 patients (2.11%). The membranes involved were polysulfone (n=23), polynephron (n=8), polyethersulfone (n=1) and polyacrylonitrile (n=1). This distribution reflected the frequency of use of membranes in the participating dialysis units. The reactions were described as type A in 18 cases and type B in 15 cases. There were no significant differences between the two types in clinical symptoms, the composition of the membrane involved, the method of sterilization, the season, or the time during the session in which they occurred. The most frequent symptom was dyspnea/breathlessness (64% of reactions). Eosinophilia was common (74%). 54% of the reactions occurred within the first 30 minutes of hemodialysis, 64% occurred during the first year of dialysis, and 54% required discontinuation of dialysis session. Cellulose triacetate was used as an alternative dialyzer in 78% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The incidence of hypersensitivity reactions was in the range found in reports from 20 years ago and is observed associated with synthetic membranes, not just polysulfones. Cellulose triacetate appears to be a good alternative for these patients.