Vitamin E-coated dialyzer reduces oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients.

The high incidence of cardiovascular disease in hemodialyzed (HD) patients is well established and oxidative stress has been involved in this phenomenon. The aim of our study was to evaluate if a vitamin E-coated dialyzer could offer protection to HD patients against oxidative stress. Sixteen HD patients were successively assessed for one month (i) on a high biocompatible synthetic dialyzer (AN) and (ii) on a vitamin E-coated dialyzer (VE). Blood samples were taken before and after the dialysis session at the end of each treatment period. HD session conducted with the AN dialyzer was responsible for acute oxidative stress, significantly assessed after HD by a decreased plasma vitamin C level and an increased ascorbyl free radical (AFR)/vitamin C ratio used as an index of oxidative stress. Plasma elastase activity, reflecting neutrophil activation, was also increased; soluble P-selectin, reflecting platelet activation, did not show any variation. The use of the VE dialyzer was associated with a less extended oxidative stress compared with the AN membrane: basal vitamin C level was higher, and after the HD session AFR/vitamin C ratio and elastase activity were not significantly increased. Plasma vitamin E levels were not affected. Our study demonstrates that HD is associated with oxidative stress, which can be partially prevented by the use of a vitamin E-coated dialyzer. Our data suggest that this dialyzer may exert a site-specific scavenging effect on free radical species in synergy with a reduced activation of neutrophils.

Recurrent myalgias associated with cimetidine.

A chronically hemodialyzed patient experienced recurrent episodes of myalgia while on cimetidine treatment (400 mg/day). After two uneventful courses of cimetidine, the pain appeared at the end of a third fourteen-weeks long course. Severe myalgia occurred at the sixth week of a fourth exposure to cimetidine. Pain was predominant in the hip area, disappeared within a few days after withdrawal and recurred three weeks after resuming therapy. There was no sign of neurological involvement and CPK remained consistently normal. Ranitidine was subsequently administered for four months whereby the patient showed no symptoms of myalgia. This observation suggests that, in susceptible individuals, a progressive decrease in tolerance to cimetidine might occur with repeated courses.

Hypercalcemia in 25 OH D3 treated patients receiving a calcium exchange resin.

Seven patients with advanced renal failure, six of whom were dialysed, received a cation exchange resin in the calcium cycle because of severe hyperkalemia, together with their usual preventive treatment of renal osteodystrophy, including 25 hydroxycholecalciferol. Hypercalcemia developed in four subjects within less than thirty days and disappeared within four days following the withdrawal of the resin. Patients who exhibited hypercalcemia had higher calcium intake, lower predialysis blood calcium and higher PTH values before introduction of the treatment. Three of the four hypercalcemic patients were diabetics. It is therefore advised to frequently monitor blood calcium when using calcium exchange resin in patients treated with vitamin D analogs.