Evaluation of health and quality of life in apheresis patients - data from the WAA register.

OBJECTIVE: The World Apheresis Association (WAA) register contains data from more than 89 000 apheresis procedures in more than 12,000 patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate functional health and quality of life (QoL) in patients during apheresis treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Estimates of health condition (HC) were made in 40,445 and of QoL in 22112 apheresis procedures. This study focused on a 10-step graded evaluation of HC (scale from: 'bedridden, unable to eat' to a level of 'athletic competition') and self-assessment of QoL (scale from: worst ever '0' to best ever '10'). Data were compared in relation to various apheresis procedures and if the patient underwent the first or subsequent apheresis procedure. RESULTS: Of the patients treated with plasma exchange (PEX) with centrifugation technique (n = 15787) 10% were 'bedridden, unable to come out of bed' while for patients treated with plasma filtration technique (n = 1018) the percentage was 27%. During the first procedure these figures were 16% and 30%, respectively. Self-estimates of QoL were graded 'zero' or '1' in 1.6% of patients during the first apheresis procedure; At the first contact patients undergoing PEX graded like this in 4.3%. CONCLUSION: Many of the patients undergoing apheresis treatment have poor HC and QoL at the start of therapy. Of all therapeutic apheresis procedures patients undergoing PEX had the lowest score of QoL.

Complement activation products in liquid stored plasma and C3a kinetics after transfusion of autologous plasma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Keeping a small stock of liquid plasma readily available for transfusion is common practise in Sweden. We report data on complement activation markers in plasma components during storage in the liquid state and the kinetics of C3a-(desArg) after transfusion of autologous plasma with high content of C3a-(desArg). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Plasma components were prepared by apheresis or from whole blood. C3 fragments (C3a-(desArg), C3d,g, iC3), and soluble terminal complement complex (sC5b-9) were investigated. C3a-(desArg) kinetics was investigated in regular apheresis donors. RESULTS: Apheresis plasma prepared by membrane centrifugation had significantly higher level of C3a-(desArg), C3d,g and sC5b-9 from day 0 and low iC3, than plasma prepared by other methods. By storage day 7, C3a-(desArg)-levels were above the reference value in 88% of all components. After re-infusion of autologous plasma with high C3a-(desArg) content, there were rapid a(1) and a(2)-distribution followed by a slower b-elimination phase. CONCLUSION: Plasma components prepared by different methods and stored in the liquid phase differ significantly in the amount and timing of complement activation. C3a-(desArg) present in plasma is rapidly eliminated after transfusion. Autologous plasma could be used to study complement kinetics in different clinical situations.

Minimized weight gain between hemodialysis contributes to a reduced risk of death.

UNLABELLED: The risk of death is higher in dialysis patients compared to age matched healthy subjects, the main reason being cardiovascular. This prospective study investigated if the extent of ultrafiltration was of importance for the outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 88 hemodialysis patients were included and followed prospectively. The outcome was registered in regard to death, acute myocardial infarction or coronary vascular intervention. The extent of ultrafiltration needed at dialysis was calculated as a mean during the observation period as were other variables. The mean extent of ultrafiltration was compared for patients who had survived without end-points (group 1, n=53) versus those who reached any end-point during the period (group 2, n=35). RESULTS: In total, 40% of the patients reached end-point during the observation period. There was no difference at baseline between the groups in regard to age, prevalence of diabetes mellitus or history of previous cardiovascular disease, KT/V, residual renal function ultrafiltration need, C-reactive protein, s-albumin, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, appetite or wellbeing, while triglyceride was lower in group 2 (p=0.035). The observation period for group 1 was at a mean 24.7 months (SD13.1) and for those in group 2 at a mean 13.8 (+/-11.7 months, p<0.001). Patients representing group 1 at 24 and 30 months had less need of ultrafiltration than those in group 2. Thus, the need of ultrafiltration was about 27% lower at 24 months (for 29 persons in group 1: 3.63+/-1.93 weight% versus 4.97+/-1.70 weight% for 9 patients from group 2, p=0.046) and 46% at 30 months (for 18 from group 1: 3.48+/-1.95 versus 6.45+/-1.55 for 3 from group 2, p=0.030). C-reactive protein did not differ significantly between the groups during the period. CONCLUSION: After a prolonged period of 24 months the extent of ultrafiltration need seems to be important for the outcome of the patients. Thereby those with higher need of ultrafiltration had worse prognosis. It seems important to motivate patients to reduce the extent of fluid intake between dialysis to prolong survival.

World apheresis association--world apheresis registry.

In 2002 WAA decided to start a world-wide apheresis registry to gain insight into the extent of treatment, adverse events, and to facilitate contacts among centers when treatment indications are rare and experience limited. Stem cell and other blood products collections intended for therapeutic application can also be entered. The WAA planned to use the French Registry. Its translation into English has not been accomplished and the fiscal obligations for that registry has not, as yet, been determined or considered and approved by the WAA Board. From Dec 2002 the proposed registry (a merged version of the French, Canadian and Swedish registries) can be immediately implemented. We now cordially invite all centers to join that registry. Please, also inform colleagues at other centers in your country to join. E-mail and address lists of colleagues in your country who have not registered will be welcomed. The site is at: Go to World Apheresis Registry; Login code to test the Registry is: al61tms. Then apply for a specific login code for your center. We welcome you to this registry for your input of data. You will not be charged any registration fee. The registry includes a randomization system that can be used for local or multi center studies (randomization by in-center basis allows you to make your own studies). It includes a formula that increases the chance to get a more even distribution between groups also for smaller sample sizes.

Blood lines conduct leakage current during haemodialysis: a potential safety risk during first failure, especially for patients with central dialysis catheter as access.

Haemodialysis (HD) machines are IEC-classified as I type B. When central dialysis catheters (CDCs) are used for access, there will be close electrical contact with the heart. To investigate the risk for HD patients, the leakage of current through the tubing set was measured during in vitro dialysis performed according to the IEC 60601-1 standard for class I cardiac floating (CF) devices. A series of eight measurements were made with Gambro GFS + 12 dialysers, first with saline and then with blood in the blood lines. The leakage current exceeded the CF limit (50 microA) at the top of the CDC using the test 'mains on applied part' for saline (median 1008 microA, range 720-1241 microA), for blood (median 610 microA, range 449-772 microA) and also for a 'single fault condition' using saline (median 68 microA, range 35-118 microA) or blood (47 microA, range 4-128 microA). In the single fault condition, the highest leakage current at the CDC (128 microA) almost exceeded the earth leakage current in normal conditions. A safety risk can appear if a single fault arises in the dialysis machine or another device connected to the same patient, or during 'mains contact to the patient'. Then the current flow may be high enough to induce arrhythmias in the patient, especially when a CDC is used. These data and the use of CDCs as access for dialysis indicate that HD machines should be classified as cardiac floating rather than body (B) devices.

Plasma cortisol is often decreased in patients treated in an intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of adrenal hypofunction, as assessed by plasma cortisol (p-cortisol) and its relationship to clinical events. DESIGN: Prospective, consecutive. SETTING: General intensive care unit in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty-five patients (34 men and 21 women) were studied (surgery 40 patients, hemodialysis 5, ventilator treatment 45, sepsis 21). METHODS: Morning basal levels of p-cortisol were determined. Previous reports define adrenal insufficiency to be present if p-cortisol under stressful conditions is lower than either 400 or 500 nmol/l. The tetracosactoid test (250 microg Synacthen) was performed in 16 patients and urinary 24-h excretion of cortisol in 24 (none on corticosteroid treatment). RESULTS: Median p-cortisol was 550 nmol/l (range 20-1764). In 36% of patients p-cortisol was lower than 400 nmol/l and in 47% lower than 500 nmol/l. There was a significantly increased probability (P < 0.05) of p-cortisol being below 400 nmol/l in patients admitted due to trauma or cerebral disorder and in patients on ventilator therapy or on mannitol. Thirty minutes after tetracosactoid administration p-cortisol response was lower than 200 nmol/l in 56% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Several patients had low p-cortisol and attenuated responses to tetracosactoid, indicative of adrenal insufficiency. There seem to be certain risk factors for adrenal hypofunction which may justify more frequent use of physiological doses of corticosteroid in selected patients.

Apheresis registry in Sweden: scope, techniques and indications for treatment. A report from the Swedish apheresis study group.

Registries of therapeutic apheresis can be used to evaluate changes in technology, clinical indications and applications over the years. This study reports data collected prospectively and voluntarily in Sweden during 1993-1999. A total number of 40 apheresis units have been performing therapeutic apheresis procedures: 16 blood centers, 20 dialysis units, two intensive care units, one hematology ward and one hemotherapy unit. The registry includes a median of 92%) of the centers for therapeutic apheresis in Sweden during the years and in 1999 there were 31 active units in 26 hospitals. The total numbers of procedures per year have remained fairly stable corresponding to a median of 46 treatments/ 100,000 inhabitants, and in 1999 4084 procedures were performed. The number of plasma exchanges has decreased, but LDL-apheresis and immunoadsorption procedures have increased over the years. 70% of the patients have been referred for 12 indications. A significant decline was found for patients with SLE and Guillain Barres syndrome. The use of extracorporeal photo-chemotherapy has increased over the years, and 3 indications include >75$ of the patients. There has been an adaptation to the experience learned by different studies. The number of collections of hematopoietic progenitor cells is about 9/100,000 inhabitants, and in 1999 821 collections were performed. The use of allogeneic donors is increasing. The extent of therapeutic apheresis in Sweden was compared to other countries on the basis of published data. In Sweden, the extent of therapy is two- to three-fold to that for Canada and France.

Paramedian insertion of Tenckhoff catheters with three purse-string sutures reduces the risk of leakage.

Starting peritoneal dialysis (PD) immediately after insertion of a peritoneal dialysis catheter is essential in some patients. However, due to a poor insertion technique, leakage may occur in up to 20% of patients after insertion of a peritoneal dialysis catheter, for example, in the midline. PD was started in 50 consecutive patients (age range 7-81 years). Under local anesthesia the Tenckhoff catheter was inserted about 3 cm lateral to the linea alba (mostly to the right) near the navel. The ventral and dorsal fasciae of the rectus muscle were split sagitally before entering the peritoneal membrane by a small incision. One purse-string suture fixed the peritoneal membrane around the inner cuff, while the second suture fixed the dorsal fascia of the rectus muscle around the outer side of the cuff. A third suture was placed around the catheter in the ventral fascia. Dialysis in all our patients was started peroperatively, initially by the use of 1 L of peritoneal dialysis fluid (Dianeal, Baxter Medical AB, Sweden). Bed rest for 2 or 3 days was requested of and performed by most patients. Only one early and no late leakages occurred. At reoperation of the patient with the leak, the second suture was found to have been loosened. The technique is easy to handle and enables immediate dialysis. The risk for leakage is very low.

Beta-blockers may cause ultrafiltration failure in peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate mechanisms of ultrafiltration failure (UFF) in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of patients with UFF during CAPD compared with cross-sectionally selected controls. SETTING: University peritoneal dialysis center. PATIENTS: Thirteen patients with UFF during CAPD necessitating change to hemodialysis (n = 6) or continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (n = 1), or causing greatly increased need for high glucose-containing solutes, were compared with 18 CAPD patients without such problems. STATISTICS: Fisher's exact test, Student's independent t-test, univariate and multivariate correlation analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were collected prior to analyses. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were higher in the UFF patients than in the controls (p = 0.006, p = 0.028, p = 0.013). Beta-blockers were used by 12 of the UFF patients, but only 2/ 18 controls (p < 0.0001). There was no intergroup difference in number of women, patient age or weight, incidence of diabetes or previous peritonitis, duration of PD, serum levels of albumin, creatinine, iron, or ferritin, or dosage of erythropoietin. Correlation was found between the daily amount of glucose instilled into the abdomen and serum triglycerides (r = +0.72, p < 0.001), total cholesterol (r = +0.56, p = 0.008), and HbA1C (r =-0.41, p = 0.039). Many patients were high absorbers of dialysis glucose. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that beta-blockers may cause UFF, and that glucose and lipid metabolism differed between these patients and controls without UFF.

Reduced risk for peritonitis in CAPD with the use of a UV connector box.

A common route for peritoneal infection is the bag transfer connecting site. To investigate possible reduction of such transfer infections with the use of a bag transfer set (UV-XD, Travenol, Baxter, Minneapolis), this study sampled patients using a transfer set with or without UV light sterilization. Calculations excluded peritonitis due to penetrating tunnel infection or defective peritoneal dialysis bag (4 episodes in 2 patients). The study included 51 patients with a median age of 62 years (range 25-81). Five were switched from manual connection (Travenol, Type II) to UV-XD, and each suffered from at least 2 peritonitis episodes during 9-24.5 months prior to the change to UV-XD. In this patient group, the incidence of peritonitis fell significantly from 1 peritonitis/4 to 1/21 months. The bag transfer set was used without UV light in 35 patients for a total of 178 months, producing an incidence of 1 episode/7.7 treatment months. These patients had significantly more peritonitis than 35 patients who used the UV light for a total of 416 months (1 episode/21 months). In 19 patients who used both techniques, there was less risk for peritonitis when UV light was used (p = 0.001). We conclude that the UV-XD device is simple to handle and may reduce the incidence of peritonitis, especially if the box is used in tandem with UV light sterilization.

Blood glucose and cholesterol control improved by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease and diabetes mellitus.

This longitudinal study was performed to evaluate the change of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose control in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) during predialysis (PreD), on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and after kidney graft. A total of 20 consecutive patients (7 women, 13 men, mean age 42 years) with IDDM and ESRD were studied retrospectively in 1991 during PreD and during CAPD. Twelve were also investigated after obtaining a kidney graft. Insulin was administered intraperitoneally (CAPD period) and subcutaneously (PreD and transplant). The mean values of weight, serum albumin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, and triglycerides were calculated during each period. Patients were age- and sex-matched with a group of healthy controls (Group 1) and with a group of patients with IDDM without nephropathy (Group 2). T-test statistics were used. During CAPD, there were significant decreases in HbA1c (mean 8.1 mmol/L vs 12.1, p = 0.003) and cholesterol (mean 6.1 mmol/L vs 7.1, p = 0.025) compared to PreD. No differences were found between PreD and CAPD stages with regard to weight, serum albumin, or triglycerides. After transplantation an improvement was found in serum albumin compared to PreD and CAPD (mean value 40 g/L vs 34 and 35, p < 0.03), and HbA1c compared to PreD (9.6 mmol/L vs 12.1, p = 0.014), if the pancreas transplanted were included. Patients compared to Group 1 or 2 showed no differences in total cholesterol or triglycerides. HbA1c was higher in patients during PreD than in Group 2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PD treatment for severe congestive heart failure.

Our objective was to evaluate if peritoneal dialysis (PD) could improve survival of patients with progressive severe congestive heart failure resistant to drug therapy. The patients were selected by the cardiologist in cooperation with a nephrologist, including patients not responding to conventional medication with an expected fatal outcome within the next months. The study included 16 consecutive patients with a chronic progressive severe refractory heart failure (sHF) of NYHA class III (n = 6) or IV (n = 10) who did not respond to diuretics and angiotension converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. They had a mean age of 60 years (+/- 14, range 30-75, median 62 years). Nine of the patients had sHF as the only reason for initiating PD (all NYHA IV), while 7 also needed dialysis due to uremia. Five of 7 had been on hemodialysis but switched to PD due to a progressive congestive sHF. In 2 patients, PD was decided already at start of dialysis therapy due to the severity of their heart failure. The reason for sHF was: valvular dysfunction (n = 5) with defect prosthesis (n = 3); in the course of a myocardial infarction (n = 4); and cardiomyopathy (n = 4). Tenckhoff catheters were inserted under local anesthesia and ultrafiltration was started and maintained until discharge. The survival time and change in heart size by x-ray was used for analyses. All patients improved their stage of congestive heart failure by NYHA classification already during the first month. Six patients died during the follow-up period due to cardiac reasons (sudden death, relapse of sHF) after a mean of 10.7 months (+/- 3.7, range 1-24 months). Ten were alive after a median observation period of 10 months (+/- 12.5, range 1-36 months). Heart size was reduced in 15 of the patients. Three of the patients with sHF but without uremia could stop the PD. The results showed that ultrafiltration by PD was easy to perform despite low initial blood pressure. The sHF was reduced and life span was prolonged with improved quality of life.

Backdiffusion or bicarbonate may stimulate complement activation during haemodialysis with low-flux membranes.

Backdiffusion of dialysate during haemodialysis with low-flux membranes and the use of bicarbonate dialysatebase, may increase the risk for contamination. The influence on the complement system was studied by altering the flux of acetate or bicarbonate dialysate base across the membrane. Eight patients were dialysed with a transmembrane pressure of 100 mm Hg (group I) during the first 60 min to standardize the ultrafiltration (UF) and acetate as dialysate. In eight other patients (group II) the UF was "set at zero" ml during the first 60 min using an FCM 10-1 monitor (Gambro) and bicarbonate as base. The groups were dialysed three times on two hollow-fiber membranes made of Hemophan and cellulose acetate (CA). Blood samples were taken at 0, 15, 60 and 180 min, and analysed for plasma protein, haematocrit and complement C3d. In group II there was a reduction in plasma protein concentration at 15 and 60 min (p < 0.002) for Hemophan and at 60 min (p < 0.01) using CA. C3d was increased at 15 min for both filters (p < 0.03). The reduction of protein in group II was followed by changes in the haematocrit, indicating a backdiffusion of dialysate, which may contribute to the concomittant increase in C3d.

Plasma exchange in patients with acute renal failure in the course of multiorgan failure.

Multiorgan failure (MOF) due to intoxication, trauma or sepsis in the progressive late stages always include acute renal failure (ARF). The prognosis of these patients is poor despite adequate dialysis. This study included 27 consecutive patients (20 men and 7 women, age range 15-77 years) with a rapid progress of MOF including ARF, who were treated by plasma exchange as an attempt to reverse the progress of MOF. Twenty-three of the patients suffered from a septic shock. Oliguria or anuria was present in all, dialysis was performed in 16 of them, and mechanical respiratory aid in 17. Plasma exchange was performed 1-10 times and almost exclusively by centrifuge technique, using albumin and/or liquid stored plasma (in a few cases fresh frozen plasma) as colloidal replacement fluid. Twenty-two patients survived (81%) and 5 patients died. The reasons of death were cerebral haemorrhagia, brain abscess, myocardial sudden death, relapsing sepsis from multiple hepatic abscesses and a not drained psoas abscess. All survivors could leave hospital recovered from renal failure with few other sequelae. The plasma exchange technique is easy to perform despite low blood pressures by using a vein to vein access. Plasma exchange, therefore, may be tried to reverse late stages of multiorgan failure.

Electrical current leakage during hemodialysis may increase blood-membrane interaction.

UNLABELLED: During hemodialysis blood - membrane interaction causes complement activation. During dialysis there may be an electrical current leakage to the dialyzer, especially if there is a broken ground or a defect in another electrical device coupled to the patient. This study investigated whether an electric current of 1.5 mA DC could alter blood membrane interaction as measured by changes in C3d in the blood. Such a high current leakage could occur because there is no protection in the dialysis machine (Class 1B) against auxiliary current leakage. Such a current could come from a defective external device in contact with the patient during hemodialysis. MATERIALS: A dialysis machine (Fresenius 2008C) with a filled blood-line system containing about 350 ml whole blood from each of 8 different donors was used in vitro. Each of the eight test-runs also contained 1000 U added heparin. The dialysis procedure was performed using hemophan membranes (GFS + 12, Gambro) with bicarbonate and potassium 3.0 (D210, Gambro) as dialysate. Two electric poles were placed in the blood line, before and after the dialyzer (connected in parallel) and the ground was placed at entry and exit of the dialysate fluid coming from the machine to the dialysis filter. C3d was measured before the start of "dialysis" and at 15, 30, 45 and 60 min, during dialysis. Thereafter the 1.5 mA current was switched on and additional samples were drawn at 75 and 90 min. The mean C3d values were calculated. Paired non-parametric statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: There was a significant and continuous increase in C3d as compared to the "predialysis" level. The increase during 0 to 30 minutes was greater than that from 30 to 60 minutes (p=0.018); the increase in C3d during 60 to 90 min, was greater than that from 30 to 60 min (p=0.018) and there was no difference between the 0 to 30 and the 60 to 90 min increases. CONCLUSIONS: A current, used in this study, was able to induce a blood membrane interaction during in vitro dialysis. Even a weaker current leakage might have such adverse effects and similar interactions seem possible during regular dialysis depending on the extent of the leakage.

Granulocyte elastase, beta-thromboglobulin, and C3d during acetate or bicarbonate hemodialysis with Hemophan compared to a cellulose acetate membrane.

Twenty-two patients were dialysed in a cross-over design using Hemophan or cellulose acetate membranes. The dialysate buffer was acetate (n = 12) or bicarbonate (n = 10). Blood was sampled at 0, 15, 60 and 180 min and mean values were adjusted for changes in total protein in each sample. At 15 min during dialysis a decrease in leukocytes and platelets occurred with both membranes, irrespective of the buffer (Wilcoxon, p less than 0.006). During dialysis, increases were found in granulocyte elastase inhibitor complex (E- alpha 1-PI), beta-thromboglobulin and C3d. beta 2-microglobulin was not significantly changed in blood after dialysis with Hemophan or cellulose acetate membranes with bicarbonate buffer. Side effects were more pronounced at 180 min during dialysis with bicarbonate in patients using cellulose acetate than with Hemophan (p = 0.021, n = 8). Hemophan seemed to be more favourable than cellulose acetate membranes in regard to leukopenia and E- alpha 1-PI. The dialysate buffer may also alter membrane biocompatibility.

Plasma exchange or immunoadsorption in patients with rapidly progressive crescentic glomerulonephritis. A Swedish multi-center study.

A therapeutic removal of antibodies may be achieved by immunoadsorption (IA) or by plasma exchange (PE). The aim of this prospective randomised study was to compare the efficacy of these different techniques with regard to treatment of patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPG) having at least 50% crescents. Forty-four patients with a RPG were included for treatment either by IA or PE (with albumin as substitution for removed plasma). All patients were additionally treated with immunosuppression. A median of 6 sessions of PEs were performed in 23 patients compared with 6 IAs in 21 patients. Goodpasture's syndrome (GP) was present in 6 patients (PE 3, IA 3). All of them started and ended in dialysis, two died. Among the remaining 38 patients (26 men, 12 women) 87% had antibodies to ANCA. Creatinine clearance for PE versus IA were at a median at start 17.1 and 19.8 ml/min, and at 6 months 49 and 49 ml/min, respectively. At 6 months 7 of 10 patients did not need dialysis (remaining: IA 0/5 and PE 2/5, n.s.). The extent of improvement did not differ between the groups. Three patients died during the observation period of 6 months (IA 2; PE 1, on HD). Although no difference was found between the IA or the PE group this study shows that the protocol used was associated with an improved renal function in most patients (except for Goodpasture's syndrome) whereas 70% of them could leave the dialysis program.

CAPD bag changing with integrated disconnect system gives lower incidence of peritonitis than with UV-box system.

UNLABELLED: The use of a UV-box disconnect system reduces the incidence of peritonitis as compared with manual exchanges. An integrated disconnect system (IDS) also gives good results. See Figure 1. From 1988-1991, we prospectively compared two groups of patients using either a UV-box disconnect system (Baxter, n = 18, mean age 64, range 28-75 yrs) or an IDS (Baxter, n = 25, mean age 53, range 30-78). The Tenckhoff catheter had been inserted by the same technique in all patients, and the training program and nursing care were also identical. Since many younger patients preferred IDS and refused randomization, age was significantly lower in the IDS group. All peritonitis episodes (PER) were registered. Excluded from calculations of PER were episodes most probably not due to failure in connective device: PER after incidental penetration of the dialysis bags, deep penetrating tunnel infections and in the direct course of abdominal surgery. RESULTS: There were significantly fewer months with PER (one month = 1 PER; Chi-2 = 6.45, p < 0.05) in patients using the IDS (3 PER/269 months) compared with those using the UV-box system (15 PER/355 months). The IDS was requested mainly by younger patients, while some older patients found it to be too complicated. CONCLUSION: The integrated disconnect system is especially acceptable by younger patients, and patients using the IDS show a low incidence of peritonitis.

Nutritional magnesium supplementation does not change blood pressure nor serum or muscle potassium and magnesium in untreated hypertension. A double-blind crossover study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate if a nutritional dose of magnesium given orally changes the blood pressure in untreated hypertensive patients and if orally-given magnesium had any influence on serum and muscle magnesium and potassium. A randomized, double-blind crossover study design was followed with magnesium 15 mmol/day or placebo treatment for two months. Thirty-nine patients aged 20-59 years, were treated. Samples for magnesium and potassium in blood, muscle and urine were taken at entry time, after two months (crossover time) and after four months (end of study). Systolic and diastolic supine and standing blood pressures were measured at the same times. No significant change in blood pressure, serum or muscle concentrations of electrolytes were observed on magnesium treatment. Urine magnesium rose significantly on magnesium, and it decreased significantly on placebo. Therefore results suggest that 15 mmol magnesium/day, given to untreated mild-to-moderate hypertensives does not alter blood pressure nor the concentrations of magnesium and potassium in serum and muscle, in patients with normal magnesium turnover.

Is There a Place for Apheresis in Patients with Severe Sepsis or Multi Organ Dysfunction Syndrome?

Severe sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome may develop in the course of severe sepsis, intoxication, poisoning, crush injury, asystole, drowning, and several other complications. When normal intensive care is insufficient despite vasoactive drugs, respiratory aid, and dialysis, the risk for death is extremely high. Only very little benefit has been noted in various trials using drug administration such as antibodies against TNF-alfa, immunoglobulin, pentoxifylline and high dose steroids. The use of apheresis (plasma exchange, plasmapheresis, adsorption) to remove toxins, cytokines, and other compounds has been tried in an unselective as well as selective manner. Data now exists that indicate increased survival by this type of therapy. It is time to focus on randomised controlled trials with these techniques to decide the efficacy of apheresis in this area.