Low-dose heparin retention in temporary hemodialysis double-lumen catheter does not increase catheter occlusion and might reduce risk of bleeding.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of heparin concentration retained in temporary double-lumen catheters on bleeding risk. METHODS: Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) was measured in patients hemodialyzed via double-lumen catheters. Heparin solutions of 5,000 U/ml (group 1, n = 95) and 1,000 U/ml (group 2, n = 89) were randomly retained in catheters after placement and each hemodialysis (HD) session. Blood transfusion, bleeding episodes, and changes of hematocrit were recorded. RESULTS: The aPTT at the beginning of HD or 10 min after heparin lock was significantly prolonged, which was more prominent in the 5,000 U/ml group, whereas the aPTT declined to baseline values at the end of HD or before the next dialysis session in both groups. Infection and occlusion rates were similar in both groups. More patients suffered from major bleeding and prominent decline of hematocrit in the 5,000 U/ml group. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose heparin (1,000 U/ml) retention in double-lumen catheters for temporary HD maintains comparable catheter patency and might reduce the bleeding risk.

Pulmonary hypertension in patients on chronic hemodialysis and with heart failure.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is linked to chronic kidney disease. However, few studies have examined the prevalence, risk factors, or outcomes of PH in patients with chronic hemodialysis and concomitant heart failure. This retrospective cohort study enrolled 160 patients with a history of acute decompensated heart failure after maintenance hemodialysis therapy. All patients were prospectively observed until December 2013 or death. PH was defined as pulmonary artery systolic pressure >35 mmHg, as determined through echocardiography. Fifty-one (32%) patients had PH, more of whom were female (70% vs. 52%, P = 0.04). The patients with PH had a lower body mass index (21.8 vs. 23.0, P = 0.03), higher cardiothoracic ratio (55% vs. 52%, P = 0.006), larger left atrium (38.5 vs. 35.7 mm, P = 0.01), and an increased proportion of mitral regurgitation (MR) (73% vs. 38%, P < 0.001) compared with the patients who did not have PH. In the multivariate regression analysis, MR was associated most strongly with PH (odds ratio 3.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67-8.43, P = 0.001). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, PH was related independently to all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 3.11; 95% CI, 1.53-6.31; P = 0.002) and combined cardiovascular events (HR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.66-4.44; P < 0.001) after the model was adjusted for conventional cardiovascular risk factors. PH is related to MR and independently associated with increased all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with chronic hemodialysis and heart failure.