Monitoring of ionized magnesium in hemodialysis patients: A useful tool to allow a personalized prescription of dialysate composition.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The dialysate magnesium (Mg) concentration is a major determinant of Mg balance in hemodialysis. This study aimed to assess the systemic variations of total (tMg) and ionized Mg (iMg) during a dialysis session using acetate or citrate fluids and 0.5 or 0.75 mM Mg. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 134 patients in maintenance hemodialysis were assigned to a dialysis session with 4 different dialysates: acetate fluid with 0.5 mM Mg (1) or 0.75 mM Mg (2), citrate fluid with 0.5 mM Mg (3) or 0.75 mM Mg (4). Ionized form was measured by direct ion-selective electrode. RESULTS: A Mg loss was observed in both acetate (0.12 and 0.08 mmol/L) and citrate (0.13 and 0.14 mmol/L for tMg and iMg, respectively) fluid groups containing 0.5 mM Mg. The use of acetate and citrate dialysates with 0.75 mM Mg led to a significant median intra-dialytic increase of 0.15 and 0.08 mmol/L for tMg, respectively. A significant augmentation in iMg concentration with acetate (0.11 mmol/L) but not with citrate dialysate (0.02 mmol/L) was observed. CONCLUSION: While a dialysate Mg concentration at 0.5 mM leads to a negative balance, increasing the concentration to 0.75 mM significantly raises post-dialysis circulating Mg. Monitoring of iMg should allow a personalized prescription in dialysate Mg.

Evaluation of a new point-of-care testing for creatinine and urea measurement.

Point of care testing makes it possible to obtain results in an extremely short time. Recently, radiometer has expanded the panel of tests available on its ABL90 FLEX PLUS blood gas analyzer (ABL90) by adding urea and creatinine. The aim of this study was to verify the performance of these new parameters. This included assessment of imprecision, linearity, accuracy by comparison with central laboratory standard assays and interferences. In addition, clinical utility in a dialysis center was evaluated. Within-lab coefficients of variation were close to 2%. The mean and limits of agreement (mean ± 1.96 SD) of the difference between ABL90 and Roche enzymatic assays on cobas 8000 were 0.5 (from -1.4 to 2.3) mmol/L and -0.9 (from -19.5 to 17.8) µmol/L for urea and creatinine, respectively. The ABL90 enzymatic urea and creatinine assays met the acceptance criteria based on biological variation for imprecision and showed good agreement with central laboratory. The two assays were unaffected by hematocrit variation between 20 and 70%, hemolysis and icterus interferences. It should be noted that the relationship between lab methods and ABL90 was conserved even for high pre-dialysis values allowing easy access to dialysis adequacy parameters (Kt/V) and muscle mass evaluation (creatinine index). Rapid measurement of creatinine and urea using whole blood specimens on ABL90 appears as a fast and convenient method. Analytical performances were in accordance with our expectations without any significant interferences by hemolysis or icterus.

Dynapaenia and sarcopaenia in chronic haemodialysis patients: do muscle weakness and atrophy similarly influence poor outcome?

BACKGROUND: Sarcopaenia, defined as a decline in both muscle mass and function, has been recognized as a major determinant of poor outcome in haemodialysis (HD) patients. It is generally assumed that sarcopaenia is driven by muscle atrophy related to protein-energy wasting. However, dynapaenia, defined as weakness without atrophy, has been characterized by a different disease phenotype from sarcopaenia. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics and prognosis of sarcopaenic and dynapaenic patients among a prospective cohort of chronic HD (CHD) patients. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-two CHD patients were enrolled from January to July 2016 and then followed prospectively until December 2018. At inclusion, weakness and atrophy were, respectively, evaluated by maximal voluntary force (MVF) and creatinine index (CI). Sarcopaenia was defined as the association of weakness and atrophy (MVF and CI below the median) while dynapaenia was defined as weakness not related to atrophy (MVF below the median, and CI above the median). RESULTS: From a total of 187 prevalent CHD patients [65% of men, age 65.3 (49.7-82.0) years], 44 died during the follow-up period of 23.7 (12.4-34.9) months. Sarcopaenia and dynapaenia were observed in 33.7 and 16% of the patients, respectively. Compared with patients with sarcopaenia, patients with dynapaenia were younger and with a lower Charlson score. In contrast, mortality rate was similar in both groups (38 and 27%, respectively). After adjustment for age, sex, lean tissue index, serum albumin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), haemoglobin (Hb), normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), dialysis vintage and Charlson score, only patients with dynapaenia were at increased risk of death [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.99, confidence interval 1.18-7.61; P = 0.02]. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for muscle functionality is highly warranted to identify patients with muscle functional impairment without muscle atrophy. In contrast to sarcopaenia, dynapaenia should appear as a phenotype induced by uraemic milieu, characterized by young patients with low Charlson score and poor prognosis outcome independently of serum albumin, hs-CRP, Hb, nPCR and dialysis vintage.

Randomised trial on clinical performances and biocompatibility of four high-flux hemodialyzers in two mode treatments: hemodialysis vs post dilution hemodiafiltration.

This prospective multicenter randomized comparative cross-over trial aimed at evaluating the influence of hemodialysis vs post-dilution hemodiafiltration with high-flux dialyzers in solute clearance and biocompatibility profile. 32 patients were sequentially dialyzed with Leoceed-21HX, Polypure-22S+, Rexsys-27H and VIE-21A. Primary outcome was ß2-microglobulin removal. Secondary outcomes were (i) extraction of other uremic solutes (ii) parameters of inflammation and nutrition and (iii) comparative quantification of perdialytic albumin losses (using total 'TDC' vs partial 'PDC' collection of dialysate). Significant increases in removal rates of ß2-microglobulin (84.7 ± 0.8 vs 71.6 ± 0.8 mg/L), myoglobin (65.9 ± 1.3 vs 38.6 ± 1.3 µg/L), free immunoglobulin light chains Kappa (74.9 ± 0.8 vs 55.6 ± 0.8 mg/L), ß-trace protein (54.8 ± 1.3 vs 26.8 ± 1.4 mg/L) and orosomucoid (11.0 ± 1.1 vs 6.0 ± 1.1 g/L) but not myostatin (14.8 ± 1.5 vs 13.0 ± 1.5 ng/mL) were observed in HDF compared to HD when pooling all dialyzers. Rexsys and VIE-A use in both HD and HDF subgroups was associated to a better removal of middle/large-size molecules compared to Leoceed and Polypure, except ß2-microglobulin for Rexsys. Inflammatory parameters were unchanged between dialyzers without any interaction with dialysis modality. Mean dialysate albumin loss was comparable between TDC and PDC (1.855 vs 1.826 g/session for TDC and PDC respectively). In addition, a significant difference in albumin loss was observed between dialyzers with the highest value (4.5 g/session) observed using Rexsys. Use of all dialyzers was associated with good removals of the large spectrum of uremic toxins tested and good biocompatibility profiles, with an additional gain in removal performances with HDF. Larger surface area, thinner wall and resultant very high ultrafiltration coefficient of Rexsys should be taken into account in its clear performance advantages.

Physical inactivity and protein energy wasting play independent roles in muscle weakness in maintenance haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Muscle weakness is associated with increased mortality risk in chronic haemodialysis (CHD) patients. Protein energy wasting (PEW) and low physical activity could impair muscle quality and contribute to muscle weakness beyond muscle wasting in these patients. Aim of this study was to assess clinical and biological parameters involved in the reduction of muscle strength of CHD patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three CHD patients (80 males, 43 females; 68,8 [57.9-78.8] y.o.) were included in this study. Maximal voluntary force (MVF) of quadriceps was assessed using a belt-stabilized hand-held dynamometer. Muscle quality was evaluated by muscle specific torque, defined as the strength per unit of muscle mass. Muscle mass was estimated using lean tissue index (LTI), skeletal muscle mass (SMM) assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and creatinine index (CI). Voorrips questionnaire was used to estimate physical activity. Criteria for the diagnosis of PEW were serum albumin, body mass index < 23 kg/m2, creatinine index < 18.82 mg/kg/d and low dietary protein intake estimated by nPCR < 0.80g/kg/d. RESULTS: MVF was 76.1 [58.2-111.7] N.m. and was associated with CI (ß = 5.3 [2.2-8.4], p = 0.001), LTI (ß = 2.8 [0.6-5.1], p = 0.013), Voorrips score (ß = 17.4 [2.9-31.9], p = 0.02) and serum albumin (ß = 1.9 [0.5-3.2], p = 0.006). Only serum albumin (ß = 0.09 [0.03-0.15], p = 0.003), Voorrips score (ß = 0.8 [0.2-1.5], p = 0.005) and CI (ß = 0.2 [0.1-0.3], p<0.001) remained associated with muscle specific torque. Thirty patients have dynapenia defined as impaired MVF with maintained SMM and were younger with high hs-CRP (p = 0.001), PEW criteria (p<0.001) and low Voorrips score (p = 0.001), and reduced dialysis vintage (p<0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Beyond atrophy, physical inactivity and PEW conspire to impair muscle strength and specific torque in CHD patients and could be related to muscle quality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02806089.

Plasma PCSK9 concentrations during the course of nondiabetic chronic kidney disease: Relationship with glomerular filtration rate and lipid metabolism.

BACKGROUND: The association between proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a critical regulator of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism, and kidney function is a matter of debate. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the association of circulating PCSK9 concentrations with both glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum lipid parameters in nondiabetic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: Fasting plasma PCSK9 concentrations were measured by ELISA in 94 nondiabetic nondialysis CKD (ND-CKD) patients not receiving statins, at different stages of CKD. RESULTS: Plasma PCSK9 levels were associated neither to eGFR (P = .770) nor to proteinuria (P = .888) at several stages of CKD. In addition, plasma PCSK9 levels did not vary significantly between the different CKD stages. Plasma PCSK9 concentrations were positively correlated with apolipoprotein B (r = 0.221; P = .03) and triglycerides (r = 0.211; P = .04) but not with total cholesterol, calculated LDL-cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), or CRP. CONCLUSION: In a homogeneous population of nondiabetic subjects without lipid-lowering therapy, plasma PCSK9 concentrations are not associated to eGFR at several stages of CKD. These data suggest that kidney function per se does not impact significantly PCSK9 metabolism.

Treatment tolerance and patient-reported outcomes favor online hemodiafiltration compared to high-flux hemodialysis in the elderly.

Large cohort studies suggest that high convective volumes associated with online hemodiafiltration may reduce the risk of mortality/morbidity compared to optimal high-flux hemodialysis. By contrast, intradialytic tolerance is not well studied. The aim of the FRENCHIE (French Convective versus Hemodialysis in Elderly) study was to compare high-flux hemodialysis and online hemodiafiltration in terms of intradialytic tolerance. In this prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial, 381 elderly chronic hemodialysis patients (over age 65) were randomly assigned in a one-to-one ratio to either high-flux hemodialysis or online hemodiafiltration. The primary outcome was intradialytic tolerance (day 30-day 120). Secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life, cardiovascular risk biomarkers, morbidity, and mortality. During the observational period for intradialytic tolerance, 85% and 84% of patients in high-flux hemodialysis and online hemodiafiltration arms, respectively, experienced at least one adverse event without significant difference between groups. As exploratory analysis, intradialytic tolerance was also studied, considering the sessions as a statistical unit according to treatment actually received. Over a total of 11,981 sessions, 2,935 were complicated by the occurrence of at least one adverse event, with a significantly lower occurrence in online hemodiafiltration with fewer episodes of intradialytic symptomatic hypotension and muscle cramps. By contrast, health-related quality of life, morbidity, and mortality were not different in both groups. An improvement in the control of metabolic bone disease biomarkers and ß2-microglobulin level without change in serum albumin concentration was observed with online hemodiafiltration. Thus, overall outcomes favor online hemodiafiltration over high-flux hemodialysis in the elderly.

Cardiovascular risk stratification in hemodialysis patients in the era of highly sensitive troponins: should we choose between hs-troponin I and hs-troponin T?

BACKGROUND: New highly sensitive (hs) assays have challenged the interpretation of cardiac troponins (cTn). The present study was designed to evaluate simultaneously conventional cTnT and cTnI together with their corresponding highly sensitive determinations in stable hemodialysis (HD) patients. Ability of cTn to stratify HD patient risk was assessed. METHODS: A total of 224 stable HD patients was included in this observational study. cTnT and hs-cTnT were measured using Roche cTnT/hs-cTnT assays based on a Cobas e601® analyzer. cTnI and hs-cTnI were measured using Beckman AccuTnI/hs-TnI IUO assays on Access II system. Patients were followed up prospectively during 9 years. Relationship between cTn level and mortality was assessed through Cox survival analysis. RESULTS: The median cTnT and cTnI concentrations were 38.5 ng/L (IQR, 18.8-76) and 10 ng/L (IQR, 10-20), respectively. The median hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI concentrations were 62.5 ng/L (IQR, 38.8-96.3) and 13.9 ng/L (IQR, 8.4-23.6), respectively. The prevalence of values above the 99th percentile was significantly more marked with cTnT (85.3 and 97.8% for conventional and hs cTnT, respectively) than with cTnI (7.6 and 67.4% for conventional and hs cTnI, respectively). During the follow-up, 167 patients died, mainly from cardiac cause (n=77). The optimized cut-off values, determined by bootstrap method, predicting mortality were 38, 69, 20 and 11 ng/L for cTnT, hs-cTnT, cTnI and hs-cTnI, respectively. After full adjustment, elevated plasma concentrations of all troponin were significant predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of patients free of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has hs-cTn I or T higher than the 99th percentile which could be seen as a limiting factor for ACS screening. However, all generation and type of troponin assays could be reliable indicators of prognosis risk in HD patients.

Creatinine index as a surrogate of lean body mass derived from urea Kt/V, pre-dialysis serum levels and anthropometric characteristics of haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Protein-energy wasting is common in long-term haemodialysis (HD) patients with chronic kidney disease and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The creatinine index (CI) is a simple and useful nutritional parameter reflecting the dietary skeletal muscle protein intake and skeletal muscle mass of the patient. Because of the complexity of creatinine kinetic modeling (CKM) to derive CI, we developed a more simplified formula to estimate CI in HD patients. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS & MEASUREMENTS: A large database of 549 HD patients followed over more than 20 years including monthly CKM-derived CI values was used to develop a simple equation based on patient demographics, predialysis serum creatinine values and dialysis dose (spKt/V) using mixed regression models. RESULTS: The equation to estimate CI was developed based on age, gender, pre-dialysis serum creatinine concentrations and spKt/V urea. The equation-derived CI correlated strongly with the measured CI using CKM (correlation coefficient  = 0.79, p-value <0.001). The mean error of CI prediction using the equation was 13.47%. Preliminary examples of few typical HD patients have been used to illustrate the clinical relevance and potential usefulness of CI. CONCLUSIONS: The elementary equation used to derive CI using demographic parameters, pre-dialysis serum creatinine concentrations and dialysis dose is a simple and accurate surrogate measure for muscle mass estimation. However, the predictive value of the simplified CI assessment method on mortality deserves further evaluation in large cohorts of HD patients.

A combined index of cardiac biomarkers as a risk factor for early cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac biomarkers, including cardiac troponin-I (cTn-I) and N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) have been associated with poor outcome in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The present study was designed to evaluate these biomarkers as biological risk factors for early and late mortality in HD patients. In addition, a multimarker approach including inflammatory index was performed in order to improve the cardiovascular risk assessment of these patients. METHODS: cTnI, NT-proBNP and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at baseline (October through November 2002) in 130 HD patients [median age 69.0 (23.4-87.7) years old, 76 females, 54 males]. Patients were followed during 8 years. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of death and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 82 patients died, mainly from cardiac cause (63.4%). Elevated cTnI, NT-proBNP or CRP were all associated with increased early (death within 2 years of follow-up) but not late mortality. Moreover, the combination of all parameters (CRP ≥10.51 mg/L and cTnI ≥0.037 µg/L and NT-proBNP ≥10,204 pg/mL) dramatically increased the short-term mortality especially the cardiovascular mortality (HR 8.58, 95% CI 1.59-46.2; p=0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: A combined index of cardiovascular risk factors could provide supplementary risk stratification in HD patients for early cardiovascular mortality, strongly supporting the annual routine determination of these biomarkers.

Vitamin E-coated polysulfone membrane improved red blood cell antioxidant status in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress has emerged as a strong pathogenic cofactor implicated in the development of long-term complications in hemodialysis (HD) patients, such as anemia, and as a major component of the malnutrition inflammation complex syndrome. This prospective multicenter study aimed at evaluating the short-term effects of the new vitamin E (vitE)-coated polysulfone (PS) membrane (VitabranE) on biocompatibility performances and anemia in HD patients. METHODS: After a 3-month washout period with a high-flux synthetic dialyzer, 43 HD patients were switched to a vitE-PS dialyzer. Sampling was performed at baseline (corresponding to the end of the washout period) and after 1, 2 and 3 months of treatment. Oxidative stress status, as well as inflammatory parameters, was investigated at the end of each study period. Hemoglobin levels and administered doses of recombinant human erythropoietin or epoetin (EPO) were available in each center. RESULTS: The use of vitE-coated membranes for 3 months was not associated with any change in inflammatory parameters. By contrast, vitE-PS dialyzer resulted in a progressive increase in red blood cell (RBC) vitE concentration and in RBC superoxide dismutase activity. A concomitant progressive significant decrease in advanced oxidation protein product concentration at 2 months was observed, suggesting a preventive effect on oxidative stress. Finally, a significant decrease of the erythropoietin resistance index was obtained after 3 months of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the vitE-PS membrane during a short period improves erythrocyte antioxidant defense mechanisms and seems to lead to a reduction in EPO requirements in HD patients.

FGF-23 removal is improved by on-line high-efficiency hemodiafiltration compared to conventional high flux hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Reducing circulating levels of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) in patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) could appear as an appealing approach for cardiovascular events prevention. The purpose of our study was to compare the clearance of FGF-23 between high flux hemodialysis (HD) and on-line hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) procedures. METHODS: Fifty-three patients were included in the HD group while 32 patients were included in the OL-HDF group. Serum pre- and post-dialysis FGF-23 levels were measured using a 2nd generation Human FGF-23 (C-Term) ELISA kit. RESULTS: Mean FGF-23 reduction rates were significantly higher in OL-HDF (55.7 ± 25.2%) versus HD (36.2 ± 28.6%) groups (P=.0001), as were calculated FGF-23 clearances (P=.015) and Kt/V-FGF-23 (P=.001). Overall, post-treatment FGF-23 levels were significantly lower than pre-treatment values in both groups (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: OL-HDF achieves higher FGF-23 removal over high flux HD.

Biocompatibility of heparin-grafted hemodialysis membranes: impact on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 circulating level and oxidative status.

This prospective observational study aimed at evaluating efficacy and biocompatibility performances of the new heparin-coated Evodial dialyzers with/without systemic heparin reduction. After a 4-week wash-out period with reference polysulfone F70S dialyzers, 6 hemodialysis patients were sequentially dialyzed with Evodial, F70S, and Evodial dialyzers using 30% heparin reduction, each period of treatment was 4 weeks. Removal rates (RR) (urea, creatinine, and ß2-microglobulin), dialysis dose, and instantaneous clearances (urea and creatinine) were measured as well as inflammatory (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and oxidative stress (OS) (superoxide anion, homocysteine, and isoprostanes) parameters at the end of each study period. Patients treated with Evodial or F70S dialyzers for 4 weeks presented comparable dialysis efficacy parameters including urea and creatinine RR, dialysis dose and instantaneous clearances. By contrast, a significantly lower but reasonably good ß2-microglobulin RR was achieved with Evodial dialyzers. Regarding biocompatibility, no significant difference was observed with inflammation and OS except for postdialysis monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 which significantly decreased with Evodial dialyzers. Thirty percent heparinization reduction with Evodial dialyzers did not induce any change in inflammation but led to an improvement in OS as demonstrated by a decrease in postdialysis superoxide production and predialysis homocysteine and isoprostane. This bioactive dialyzer together with heparin dose reduction represents a good trade-off between efficacy and biocompatibility performance (improvement in OS with a weak decrease in efficacy) and its use is encouraging for hemodialysis patients not only in reducing OS but also in improving patient comorbid conditions due to lesser heparin side effects.

Creatinine index and transthyretin as additive predictors of mortality in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition and inflammation are recognized as important predictors of poor clinical outcome in haemodialysis (HD). This study was designed to estimate the relative contribution of known biological markers of inflammation, malnutrition and muscle mass in the prognosis of HD patients. METHODS: A total of 187 HD patients (100 women, 87 men, median age 66.7 years [22.3-93.5]) were followed-up yearly for 5 years. At baseline, pre-dialysis values of C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, transthyretin, total HDL- and LDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol were determined. Estimation of creatinine index (CI) as muscle mass marker was determined by creatinine kinetic modelling using pre- and post-dialysis creatinine values. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 89 deaths (53 from cardiovascular causes) were observed. After adjustment for age, gender, dialysis vintage, smoking, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, the highest tertile of CRP and lowest tertile of transthyretin and CI were significantly associated with all-cause mortality (relative risk (RR)=1.98 [1.12-3.47], 2.58 [1.48-4.50], 2.71 [1.42-5.19], respectively). In addition, low CI had an additive value to low levels of transthyretin. In contrast, high cholesterol (RR=0.47 [0.27-0.83], P=0.0091) and vitamin E concentrations (RR=0.46 [0.26-0.80], P= 0.006) showed a protective trend for all-cause mortality. In the multivariate analysis, transthyretin appeared as the most predictive biological marker of non-CV mortality (RR=3.78 [1.30-10.96], P=0.014), and CI of CV mortality (RR=2.61 [1.06-6.46], P=0.038), respectively. Discussion. These results confirm that uraemic malnutrition constitutes an important risk factor for mortality in HD. Beyond transthyretin, CI seems to be an additional marker routinely available and monthly determined in HD patients.

Plasma osteoprotegerin is associated with mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Expression of bone proteins resulting from transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells into osteoblasts suggests that vascular calcifications are a bioactive process. Regulating molecules such as osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) could play a key role in bone-vascular calcification imbalance. This study investigated the contribution of these proteins as well as mineral metabolism disorders in hemodialysis (HD) patient outcome. A total of 185 HD patients were followed up prospectively for 2 yr. In addition to clinical characteristics, mineral metabolism markers as well as OPG and soluble RANKL (sRANKL) were measured at baseline. After 2 yr, survival rates were described with Kaplan-Meier and compared with Cox regression analyses; 50 patients died (27 from cardiovascular diseases). Calcium, phosphate, and calcium x phosphate product were not associated with mortality. Both hyperparathyroidism (parathyroid hormone > or =300 pg/ml) and hypoparathyroidism (parathyroid hormone <150 pg/ml) were poorly associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. By contrast, elevated OPG levels predicted all-cause (relative risk [RR] 2.67; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32 to 5.41; P = 0.006) and cardiovascular mortality (RR 3.15; 95% CI 1.14 to 8.69; P = 0.03). Low levels of sRANKL were associated with a protective effect for all-cause mortality (RR 0.45; 95% CI 0.21 to 0.94; P = 0.03). The association of OPG with all-cause mortality was stronger in patients with C-reactive protein > or =12.52 mg/L. In this condition, both highest (RR 5.68; 95% CI 1.48 to 22.73; P = 0.01) and lowest tertiles (RR 5.37; 95% CI 147 to 1968; P = 0.01) significantly predicted poor outcome. These results show that regulating-bone molecules, especially OPG, are strong predictors of mortality in HD patients, suggesting that OPG is a vascular risk factor, in particular in patients who have high C-reactive protein levels. OPG determination therefore should be added to the biologic follow-up of these patients.

Clinical cross-over comparison of mid-dilution hemodiafiltration using a novel dialyzer concept and post-dilution hemodiafiltration.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have indicated that the improved elimination of middle molecules by convective renal replacement procedures might be associated with a better outcome in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). On-line mid-dilution hemodiafiltration (HDF) with the Nephros OLpur MD 190 hemodiafilter represents a novel extracorporeal renal replacement therapy concept to increase the removal of middle molecules. METHODS: In a prospective cross-over study in 10 ESRD patients, this technique was compared to on-line post-dilution HDF with a conventional synthetic high-flux dialyzer, operated at its technical limit, concerning small and middle molecular solute removal. Each patient was treated 3 times for 4.0 +/- 0.4 hours with both filters. Blood flow was 400 mL/min, substitution flow (Q(S)) during mid-dilution HDF 200 mL/min, and during post-dilution HDF 100 mL/min, and effective dialysate flow of 700 - Q(S) mL/min. Instantaneous clearances, reduction ratios (RR), and middle molecule mass transfer in continuously collected dialysate were determined. RESULTS: While urea and creatinine clearances were significantly lower (6.4% and 3.9%, respectively), middle molecule removal was much more efficient in mid-dilution HDF over the whole range of investigated proteins: compared to post-dilution HDF, beta(2)-microglobulin (11.8 kD) clearance (165.8 +/- 26.59 vs. 201.9 +/- 20.63 mL/min; P < 0.001), RR (80.0 +/- 5.4% vs. 82.2 +/- 5.7%; P < 0.001), and dialysate mass transfer (53% higher; P < 0.001) were significantly higher. For the larger middle molecules, cystatin C (13.4 kD) and retinol-binding protein (21.2 kD), mid-dilution HDF resulted in an even more superior performance, indicated by significantly higher values of all investigated parameters. CONCLUSION: On-line mid-dilution HDF with the Nephros OLpur MD 190 hemodiafilter appears to be a true technologic step ahead in terms of improved middle molecule removal. This efficient procedure gives hope to play a role in preventing or at least retarding dialysis-related long-term complications, such as beta(2)m amyloidosis, in ESRD patients, and may contribute to a more adequate dialysis therapy.

Measurement of circulating troponin Ic enhances the prognostic value of C-reactive protein in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) levels are considered an important diagnostic tool in acute coronary events. They could be of predictive value in haemodialysis (HD) patients. However, the relationship between cTnI and the HD-induced inflammatory state remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic relevance to all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities in HD patients of cTnI, in combination with highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. METHODS: We measured cTnI and hs-CRP at baseline (March 10 to November 16, 2001) in 191 HD patients without clinical signs of acute coronary artery disease [median age 66.7 years (range 22.3-93.5), 94 females, 97 males]. We used a cTnI concentration with a total imprecision of 10% (0.03 microg/l), determined in the laboratory, as the analytical threshold value. Patients were followed for mortality until 1 January, 2003 (median follow-up 418 days). The adjusted relative risks (RRs) of death and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: A significant proportion (25.1%) of patients had elevated CTnl, > or =0.03 microg/l; 40.3% of patients had CRP concentrations > or =10 mg/l. During follow-up, 29 patients died, 44.8% due to cardiac causes. Elevated cTnI or CRP levels were associated with increased mortality [RR adjusted for age, sex and duration of dialysis 4.2 (1.9-9.0) for cTnI > or =0.03 microg/l and 3.6 (1.6-8.1) for CRP > or =10 mg/l], cTnI being particularly predictive of cardiovascular death. Moreover, the combination of elevated hs-CRP (> or =10 mg/l) and circulating cTnI (> or =0.03 microg/l) dramatically impaired the HD survival rate [adjusted RR for all-cause mortality 16.9 (4.5-63.8)]. CONCLUSION: Circulating cTnI was associated with poor prognosis, especially when combined with elevated CRP, strongly supporting the adoption of regular cTnI testing in HD patients.