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Objective@#High-quality chest compressions are consistently delivered by mechanical chest compression devices. This study assesses the feasibility of LUCAS in in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) patients. @*Methods@#This was a single-center, retrospective, before and after clinical study comparing the clinical outcomes of LUCAS cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in IHCA patients. The return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rate and 7-day mortality were evaluated to assess short-term outcomes. Additional outcomes included epinephrine dose, CPR time, and the number of medical workers participating in CPR. @*Results@#The number of medical workers who participated in CPR in the LUCAS CPR group was fewer than in the manual CPR group (manual CPR 9.3 vs. LUCAS CPR 4.5; P=0.001). In IHCA patients, no significant differences were obtained in the ROSC rate (manual CPR 46.4% vs. LUCAS CPR 31.4%; P=0.051) and 7-day mortality (manual CPR 81% vs. LUCAS CPR 86.3%; P=0.434) between the two groups. However, the median CPR time (manual CPR 28.1 vs. LUCAS CPR 42.8; P=0.001) and the epinephrine dose (manual CPR 8.3 vs. LUCAS CPR 13.3; P=0.001) were significantly longer in the LUCAS CPR group than the manual CPR group. @*Conclusion@#Compared to manual CPR, CPR with LUCAS required fewer healthcare workers and had no significant difference in the ROSC rate and mortality in patients with IHCA.
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Plastic cannulae have attracted increasing interest as an alternative to traditional metal needles with the aim of reducing cannulation-related complications. We investigated whether the substitution volumes during hemodiafiltration differ using these two types of needles in dialysis patients. Methods: An intervention study involving 26 hemodialysis patients was conducted in Korea between March and September in 2021. Patients first received online hemodiafiltration using traditional metal needles, and thereafter plastic cannulae were used in a stepwise protocol. Repeated-measures design and linear mixed-effect models were used to compare substitution volumes between the two needle types with the same inner diameter. Results: The mean patient age was 62.7 years, and their mean dialysis vintage was 95.2 months. Most patients (92.3%) had an arteriovenous fistula as the vascular access. The substitution volume increased as blood flow and needle size increased for both plastic cannulae and metal needles. The substitution volume was significantly higher with 17-gauge (G) plastic cannulae than with 16-G metal needles at blood flow rates of 280, 300, and 330 mL/min. Similar results were obtained for 15-G metal needles and 16-G plastic cannulae at a blood flow rate of 330 mL/min. However, the patient ratings of pain on a visual analogue scale were higher for plastic cannulae. Conclusion: Higher substitution volumes were obtained at the same prescribed blood flow rate with plastic cannulae than with metal needles during online hemodiafiltration. Plastic cannulae are an option for achieving high-volume hemodiafiltration for patients with low blood flow rates.
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Diabetic nephropathy (DN) can affect quality of life (QoL) because it requires arduous lifelong management. This study analyzed QoL differences between DN patients and patients with other chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). Methods: The analysis included subjects (n = 1,766) from the KNOW-CKD (Korean Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease) cohort who completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form questionnaire. After implementing propensity score matching (PSM) using factors that affect the QoL of DN patients, QoL differences between DN and non-DN participants were examined. Results: Among all DN patients (n = 390), higher QoL scores were found for taller subjects, and lower scores were found for those who were unemployed or unmarried, received Medical Aid, had lower economic status, had higher platelet counts or alkaline phosphatase levels, or used clopidogrel or insulin. After PSM, the 239 matched DN subjects reported significantly lower patient satisfaction (59.9 vs. 64.5, p = 0.02) and general health (35.3 vs. 39.1, p = 0.04) than the 239 non-DN subjects. Scores decreased in both groups during the 5-year follow-up, and the scores in the work status, sexual function, and role-physical domains were lower among DN patients than non-DN patients, though those differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Socioeconomic factors of DN were strong risk factors for impaired QoL, as were high platelet, alkaline phosphatase, and clopidogrel and insulin use. Clinicians should keep in mind that the QoL of DN patients might decrease in some domains compared with non-DN CKDs.
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Methods@#This is a post hoc analysis of a prospective, controlled, randomized, unblinded study with 78 Korean hemodialysis patients receiving intravenous (n = 40) or subcutaneous (n = 38) erythropoietin therapy. We evaluated hemoglobin variability by calculating the frequency of hemoglobin measurements outside the target range during all visits. The high-frequency group was defined by those with hemoglobin variability over the median value (25%) while the low-frequency group was defined by those with hemoglobin variability of <25%. @*Results@#In this analysis, 37 patients (51.1%) were men, and the mean age was 50.6 ± 12.5 years. Twenty-five patients (35.2%) had diabetes mellitus. The frequency of the value being outside the target hemoglobin range was higher in the subcutaneous group compared to the intravenous group (0.36 ± 0.19 vs. 0.27 ± 0.12/visit, p = 0.03). The low-frequency group required significantly lower erythropoietin doses compared to the high-frequency group. In the adjusted Cox analysis, the parameter high-frequency group was a significant independent risk factor for cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 3.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–10.83; p = 0.03). @*Conclusion@#The risk of missing the target hemoglobin range increased with subcutaneous administration compared with intravenous erythropoietin administration in hemodialysis patients. An increased frequency of the value being outside the target hemoglobin range was also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.
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Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a potentially fatal complication after long-term peritoneal dialysis, and tamoxifen can be used for its prevention and treatment. However, tamoxifen is known to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism. A 49-year-old woman was admitted with sudden abdominal pain. The patient had received peritoneal dialysis for 20 years and switched to hemodialysis after the diagnosis of EPS. Tamoxifen (10 mg) and prednisolone (20 mg) had been administered for 8 months. On computed tomography, the left hepatic lobe was hardly illuminated, leading to a diagnosis of liver infarction. A month later, she was re-admitted due to abdominal pain and extensive deep vein thrombosis of the leg. The administration of tamoxifen was stopped and prednisolone was reduced to 10 mg. As her malnutrition progressed, she succumbed to death of gram negative sepsis. The patient was concluded to have liver infarction and extensive venous thrombosis as a side effect of tamoxifen.
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Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a potentially fatal complication after long-term peritoneal dialysis, and tamoxifen can be used for its prevention and treatment. However, tamoxifen is known to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism. A 49-year-old woman was admitted with sudden abdominal pain. The patient had received peritoneal dialysis for 20 years and switched to hemodialysis after the diagnosis of EPS. Tamoxifen (10 mg) and prednisolone (20 mg) had been administered for 8 months. On computed tomography, the left hepatic lobe was hardly illuminated, leading to a diagnosis of liver infarction. A month later, she was re-admitted due to abdominal pain and extensive deep vein thrombosis of the leg. The administration of tamoxifen was stopped and prednisolone was reduced to 10 mg. As her malnutrition progressed, she succumbed to death of gram negative sepsis. The patient was concluded to have liver infarction and extensive venous thrombosis as a side effect of tamoxifen.
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BACKGROUND/AIMS@#Maintaining the patency of vascular access (VA) in hemodialysis (HD) patients is important and can be life-saving. We investigated the effects of aspirin resistance and mean platelet volume (MPV) on VA failure in HD patients.@*METHODS@#We enrolled 163 patients on maintenance HD. VA failure was defined as thrombosis or a decrease of > 50% of the normal vessel diameter, as revealed by angiography.@*RESULTS@#Aspirin resistance was observed in 17 of 109 patients in whom this parameter was measured, and was not significantly associated with VA failure (p = 0.051). The mean MPV was 9.15 ± 0.05 fL. The 163 patients were grouped by the median MPV value (9.08 fL) at baseline; patients with higher MPVs (n = 82) had lower platelet counts (p = 0.002) and albumin levels (p = 0.009). During 34 months of follow-up, 65 VA failures (39.9%) occurred. The Kaplan-Meier curve revealed significant differences between the two groups in terms of cumulative VA failure (54.1% vs. 35.3%, p = 0.018). On multivariate analysis, the MPV (hazard ratio [HR], 1.794; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.066 to 3.020; p = 0.028), platelet count (HR, 1.003; 95% CI, 1.001 to 1.006; p = 0.01), and smoking status (HR, 1.894; 95% CI, 1.019 to 3.519; p = 0.043) independently predicted VA failure.@*CONCLUSIONS@#A high MPV was associated with an increased risk of VA failure, whereas aspirin resistance showed only a weak association. The MPV may predict VA survival in HD patients.
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BACKGROUND/AIMS@#Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a self-limiting infectious disease, but 1% of subjects develop fulminant hepatitis. The prevalence of the anti-HAV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody in hemodialysis subjects in Korea remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the seropositive rate of anti-HAV antibody among hemodialysis subjects in two hospitals according to age group.@*METHODS@#A total of 170 hemodialysis subjects were evaluated for the seropositive rate of the anti-HAV IgG antibody and its titer.@*RESULTS@#Of the 170 maintenance hemodialysis subjects in two hospitals (Kangnam 92 vs. Chuncheon 78), 79 (46.5%) were male. The mean age was 53.2 years old, and 94.1% of the subjects were over 40 years old. The median vintage of hemodialysis was 29.0 months. Anti-HAV antibody was found in 163 subjects (95.9%), with no significant difference between the two areas (Kangnam 97.8% [n = 90] vs. Chuncheon 93.6% [n = 73]). Subjects younger than 40 years old showed a seropositive rate of 50%, while the seropositive rate increased with age for subjects aged 40 or older (p for trend < 0.001). Seropositive subjects from Kangnam showed a higher anti-HAV antibody titer than those from Chuncheon (median: Kangnam 14.2 vs. Chuncheon 11.7). Only age influenced seropositivity. The only factor that influenced the antibody level was the location of hospital (p < 0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The seropositive rate of the anti-HAV antibody in hemodialysis subjects was 95%, which is similar to findings in the general population. Active immunization against hepatitis A is strongly recommended for hemodialysis subjects under 40 years of age after anti-HAV testing.
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The authors would like to publish this corrigendum to correct the data in Table 2 of the above article.
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BACKGROUND: Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) and γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) are commonly observed in patients with acute pyelonephritis. The goal of this study was to examine the clinical significance of elevated serum AP and γ-GT levels and to explore the mechanisms underlying these changes. METHODS: We examined serum AP and γ-GT levels in 438 patients with acute pyelonephritis. Urine AP/creatinine (Cr), urine γ-GT/Cr, fractional excretion of AP, and fractional excretion of γ-GT (FE(γ-GT)) were evaluated in patients with elevated and normal serum levels. AP isoenzymes were also examined. RESULTS: We identified 77 patients (17.6%) with elevated serum AP and 134 patients (30.6%) with elevated serum γ-GT. Among them, both enzymes were elevated in 64 patients (14.6%). Older age, longer hospital stay, elevated baseline serum Cr, and complicated pyelonephritis were associated with increases in serum AP and γ-GT. Multivariate analysis showed that high serum AP levels were significantly correlated with renal impairment (odds ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–4.19; P = 0.029). FE(γ-GT) was significantly lower in patients with elevated serum enzyme levels. The liver fraction for AP isoenzyme profile did not increase in patients with elevated serum AP. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that elevated serum AP and γ-GT levels are associated with complicated pyelonephritis and renal impairment. Lower FE(γ-GT) levels in patients with elevated serum enzymes may be the result of decreased urinary excretion of these enzymes.
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Humains , Phosphatase alcaline , gamma-Glutamyltransferase , Isoenzymes , Durée du séjour , Foie , Analyse multifactorielle , Pyélonéphrite , TransferasesRésumé
BACKGROUND: This study compared nutritional parameters in hemodialysis (HD) subjects and controls using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and investigated how BIA components changed before and after HD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 147 subjects on maintenance HD from two hospitals and 298 propensity score-matched controls from one healthcare center. BIA was performed pre- and post-HD at mid-week dialysis sessions. RESULTS: Extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) and waist-hip ratio were higher in the HD patients; the other variables were higher in the control group. The cardiothoracic ratio correlated best with overhydration (r = 0.425, P < 0.01) in HD subjects. Blood pressure, hemoglobin, creatinine, and uric acid positively correlated with the lean tissue index in controls; however, most of these nutritional markers did not show significant correlations in HD subjects. Normal hydrated weight was predicted to be higher in the pre-HD than post-HD measurements. Predicted ultrafiltration (UF) volume difference based on pre- and post-HD ECW/TBW and measured UF volume difference showed a close correlation (r 2 = 0.924, P < 0.01). Remarkably, the leg phase angle increased in the post-HD period. CONCLUSION: The estimated normal hydrated weight using ECW/TBW can be a good marker for determining dry weight. HD subjects had higher ECW/TBW but most nutritional indices were inferior to those of controls. It was possible to predict UF volume differences using BIA, but the post-HD increase in leg phase angle, a nutritional marker, must be interpreted with caution.
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Humains , Pression sanguine , Eau corporelle , Créatinine , Études transversales , Prestations des soins de santé , Dialyse , Jambe , Évaluation de l'état nutritionnel , État nutritionnel , Dialyse rénale , Ultrafiltration , Acide urique , Rapport taille-hanchesRésumé
A 47-year-old female previously diagnosed with ADPKD visited the hospital due to sudden pain in her upper abdomen and back. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT), and CT angiography identified an esophageal artery pseudoaneurysm and hematoma in the esophagus. Urgent angiography and embolization were performed. After the procedure, CT angiography and positron emission tomography were performed due to differences in blood pressure between the arms. The patient was also found to have Takayasu arteritis and subsequently received outpatient follow-up care. The possible mechanisms that cause vascular abnormalities in ADPKD patients include damaged vascular integrity due to abnormal polycystin expression caused by PKD mutations and connective tissue abnormalities. Further research is needed to confirm these mechanisms, and ADPKD patients should be assessed for vascular abnormalities.
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Femelle , Humains , Adulte d'âge moyen , Abdomen , Anévrysme , Faux anévrisme , Angiographie , Bras , Artères , Pression sanguine , Tissu conjonctif , Endoscopie digestive , Oesophage , Études de suivi , Hématome , Patients en consultation externe , Polykystose rénale autosomique dominante , Tomographie par émission de positons , Maladie de TakayashuRésumé
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Diabetic cystopathy is a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus. This study assessed the association between the post-voiding residual (PVR) urine volume and diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetics with no voiding symptoms. METHODS: This study investigated 42 patients with type 2 diabetes who were followed regularly at our outpatient clinic between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. No patient had voiding problems or International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSSs) > or = 12. An urologist performed the urological evaluations and the PVR was measured using a bladder scan. A PVR > 50 mL on two consecutive voids was considered abnormal, which was the primary study outcome. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 60 +/- 10 years; the IPSS score was 3.7 +/- 3.3; and the diabetes duration was 11.9 +/- 7.8 years. Seven of the 42 patients (16.7%) had a PVR > 50 mL. The presence of overt proteinuria or microalbuminuria was associated with an increased risk of a PVR > 50 mL (p 50 mL had a significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) compared with those with a PVR 50 mL. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diabetic nephropathy had a significantly higher PVR and a lower eGFR was associated with an abnormal PVR.
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Adulte , Sujet âgé , Sujet âgé de 80 ans ou plus , Femelle , Humains , Mâle , Adulte d'âge moyen , Diabète de type 2/complications , Néphropathies diabétiques/diagnostic , Débit de filtration glomérulaire , Rein/physiopathologie , Modèles logistiques , Analyse multifactorielle , Odds ratio , Services de consultations externes des hôpitaux , République de Corée , Facteurs de risque , Facteurs temps , UrodynamiqueRésumé
Adipsic hypernatremia is a rare disorder of hypothalamic osmoreceptor dysfunction for thirst. It is frequently associated with a deficiency in antidiuretic hormone (ADH) release. We report the first case in Korea of adipsic hypernatremia combined with subnormal ADH response to osmotic stimuli without any demonstrable structural lesion. A 69-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with general weakness. In a hypernatremic hyperosmolar state, she denied thirst and did not drink spontaneously. Her plasma ADH level was markedly subnormal but she had no large volume of dilute urine. Investigation of osmoregulation by infusion of hypertonic saline revealed adipsia and an absolute deficiency in antidiuretic hormone release, despite a serum osmolarity in excess of 321 mOsmol/kg. There was no structural lesion of the hypothalamus and no abnormal finding in hypothalamic-pituitary function. After diagnosis, she was treated successfully with intentional water intake alone.
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Sujet âgé , Femelle , Humains , Hypernatrémie , Hypothalamus , Corée , Concentration osmolaire , Plasma sanguin , Soif , Équilibre hydroélectrolytiqueRésumé
Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome involving the breakdown of skeletal muscle that causes myoglobin and other intracellular proteins to leak into the circulatory system, resulting in organ injury including acute kidney injury. We report a case of statin-induced rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury that developed in a 63-year-old woman with previously undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Untreated hypothyroidism may have caused her hypercholesterolemia requiring statin treatment, and it is postulated that statin-induced muscle injury was aggravated by hypothyroidism resulting in her full-blown rhabdomyolysis. Although this patient was successfully treated with continuous venovenous hemofiltration and L-thyroxin replacement, rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney injury is a potentially life-threatening disorder. Physicians must pay special attention to the possible presence of subclinical hypothyroidism when administering statins in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
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Femelle , Humains , Adulte d'âge moyen , Atteinte rénale aigüe , Hémofiltration , Inhibiteurs de l'hydroxyméthylglutaryl-CoA réductase , Hypercholestérolémie , Hypothyroïdie , Muscles squelettiques , Muscles , Myoglobine , RhabdomyolyseRésumé
Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome involving the breakdown of skeletal muscle that causes myoglobin and other intracellular proteins to leak into the circulatory system, resulting in organ injury including acute kidney injury. We report a case of statin-induced rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury that developed in a 63-year-old woman with previously undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Untreated hypothyroidism may have caused her hypercholesterolemia requiring statin treatment, and it is postulated that statin-induced muscle injury was aggravated by hypothyroidism resulting in her full-blown rhabdomyolysis. Although this patient was successfully treated with continuous venovenous hemofiltration and L-thyroxin replacement, rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney injury is a potentially life-threatening disorder. Physicians must pay special attention to the possible presence of subclinical hypothyroidism when administering statins in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
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Femelle , Humains , Adulte d'âge moyen , Atteinte rénale aigüe , Hémofiltration , Inhibiteurs de l'hydroxyméthylglutaryl-CoA réductase , Hypercholestérolémie , Hypothyroïdie , Muscles squelettiques , Muscles , Myoglobine , RhabdomyolyseRésumé
BACKGROUND: Dialysis patients have impaired host defense mechanisms and frequently require antibiotics for various infective complications. In this study, we investigated whether dialysis patients have greater risk for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). METHODS: During the 4-year study period (2004-2008), 85 patients with CDAD were identified based on a retrospective review of C difficile toxin assay or histology records. Nosocomial diarrheal patients without CDAD were considered as controls (n=403). We assessed the association between renal function and the prevalence and clinical outcomes of CDAD. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the prevalence rate of chronic kidney disease (CKD) between CDAD and non-CDAD patients (P<0.001). Sixteen patients (18.8%) of the CDAD group were treated with dialysis, whereas 21 patients (5.2%) of the non-CDAD group were treated with dialysis. There was a significant association between renal function and CDAD in patients on dialysis [odds ratio (OR)=4.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.19-8.99, P<0.001], but not in patients with CKD stage 3-5 (OR=1.10, 95% CI 0.63-1.92, P=0.73). In multivariate analysis, CKD stage 5D was an independent risk factor for the development of CDAD (OR=13.36, 95% CI 2.94-60.67, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that dialysis patients might be at a greater risk of developing CDAD, which suggests that particular attention should be provided to CDAD when antibiotic treatment is administered to dialysis patients.
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Humains , Antibactériens , Clostridium , Clostridioides difficile , Mécanismes de défense , Dialyse , Diarrhée , Analyse multifactorielle , Prévalence , Insuffisance rénale chronique , Études rétrospectives , Facteurs de risqueRésumé
BACKGROUND: Dialysis patients have impaired host defense mechanisms and frequently require antibiotics for various infective complications. In this study, we investigated whether dialysis patients have greater risk for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). METHODS: During the 4-year study period (2004-2008), 85 patients with CDAD were identified based on a retrospective review of C difficile toxin assay or histology records. Nosocomial diarrheal patients without CDAD were considered as controls (n=403). We assessed the association between renal function and the prevalence and clinical outcomes of CDAD. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the prevalence rate of chronic kidney disease (CKD) between CDAD and non-CDAD patients (P<0.001). Sixteen patients (18.8%) of the CDAD group were treated with dialysis, whereas 21 patients (5.2%) of the non-CDAD group were treated with dialysis. There was a significant association between renal function and CDAD in patients on dialysis [odds ratio (OR)=4.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.19-8.99, P<0.001], but not in patients with CKD stage 3-5 (OR=1.10, 95% CI 0.63-1.92, P=0.73). In multivariate analysis, CKD stage 5D was an independent risk factor for the development of CDAD (OR=13.36, 95% CI 2.94-60.67, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that dialysis patients might be at a greater risk of developing CDAD, which suggests that particular attention should be provided to CDAD when antibiotic treatment is administered to dialysis patients.
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Humains , Antibactériens , Clostridium , Clostridioides difficile , Mécanismes de défense , Dialyse , Diarrhée , Analyse multifactorielle , Prévalence , Insuffisance rénale chronique , Études rétrospectives , Facteurs de risqueRésumé
Although severe paraquat poisoning is fatal, intensive immunosuppression can be successful in selected patients. We report the case of a 33-yr-old patient who was poisoned by paraquat and developed multi-organ failure, progressive hypoxemia, and pulmonary fibrosis. The patient was successfully treated with four courses of immunosuppressive pulse therapy. The patient presented to the hospital 2.5 hours after ingesting 2 mouthfuls of paraquat. The serum level of paraquat was 10.40 microg/mL at 3 hours and 3.36 microg/mL at 10 hours after ingestion, which is predictive of a fatal outcome. The first course of steroid and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy was initiated after hemoperfusion. During the hospital course, the patient showed progressive hypoxemia with pulmonary fibrosis. Accordingly, three additional courses of immunosuppressive pulse therapy were administered to prevent pulmonary injury. This treatment inevitably led to bone marrow suppression, which was recovered with supportive care. The patient fully recovered after repeated immunosuppressive pulse therapy without residual hypoxemia and was successfully discharged from the hospital.
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Humains , Hypoxie , Moelle osseuse , Cyclophosphamide , Consommation alimentaire , Issue fatale , Hémoperfusion , Immunosuppression thérapeutique , Lésion pulmonaire , Bouche , Paraquat , Fibrose pulmonaireRésumé
PURPOSE: Systemic anticoagulation, usually with heparin, is required to prevent thrombosis in the blood circuit of hemodialysis. In patients at high bleeding risk, strategies to minimize the bleeding risk include heparin-free or regional anticoagulation methods. Nafamostat mesilate with conventional dose (35 mg/hr) has been used for this purpose. But it is an expensive anticoagulant to use conveniently for the dialysis therapy. Application of low-dose nafamostat mesilate has almost never been tried yet on hemodiaysis management. In this study, we examined the effect of low-dose nafamostat mesilate compared to heparin-free in hemodialysis patients with high risk of bleeding. METHODS: The current study was conducted on 35 hemodialysis patients with high bleeding risk (on-going bleeding, hemorrhage, surgery or severe thrombocytopenia). In the low-dose nafamostat group (n=17, mean age: 59+/-15 years), 238 sessions were performed with continuous infusion of nafamostat mesilate (12.5 mg/hr). In the control group with saline-flushing no heparin methods (n=18, mean age: 57+/-17 years), 247 sessions were analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in baseline characteristics between the low-dose nafamostat group and the saline group. In the progress of bleeding complications, there were no significant differences between the two groups (11.8% vs. 11.1%). In saline group, however, massive clotting occurred in 44.5 per 1000 sessions, while it occurred in 4.2 per 1000 sessions in the low-dose nafamostat group (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: In patients at high bleeding risk, low-dose nafamostat mesilat can be used as an inexpensive, effective, and safe anticoagulant for hemodialysis.