A simple modification of dialysate potassium: its impact on plasma potassium concentrations and the electrocardiogram.

BACKGROUND: Sudden death is frequent in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Both hyperkalaemia and change of plasma potassium (K) concentrations induced by HD could explain this. The impact of increasing dialysate K by 1 mEq/L on plasma K concentrations and electrocardiogram (ECG) results before and after HD sessions was studied. METHODS: Patients with pre-dialysis K >5.5 mEq/L were excluded. ECG and K measurements were obtained before and after the first session of the week for 2 weeks. Then, K in the dialysate was increased (from 1 or 3 to 2 or 4 mEq/L, respectively). Blood and ECG measurements were repeated after 2 weeks of this change. RESULTS: Twenty-seven prevalent HD patients were included. As expected, a significant decrease in K concentrations was observed after the dialysis session, but this decrease was significantly lower after the switch to an increased dialysate K. The pre-dialysis K concentrations were not different after changing, but post-dialysis K concentrations were higher after switching (P < 0.0001), with a lower incidence of post-dialysis hypokalaemia. Regarding ECG, before switching, the QT interval (QT) dispersion increased during the session, whereas no difference was observed after switching. One week after switching, post-dialysis QT dispersion [38 (34-42) ms] was lower than post-dialysis QT dispersion 2 weeks and 1 week before switching [42 (38-57) ms, P = 0.0004; and 40 (35-50) ms, P = 0.0002]. CONCLUSIONS: A simple increase of 1 mEq/L of K in the dialysate is associated with a lower risk of hypokalaemia and a lower QT dispersion after the dialysis session. Further study is needed to determine if such a strategy is associated with a lower risk of sudden death.

Impact of the type of dialysis membranes on the circulating concentration of markers of vitamin D metabolism.

INTRODUCTION: Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines recommend vitamin D supplementation in hemodialyzed patients to monitor 25(OH)-vitamin D 25(OH)D levels. However, patient-to-patient inconsistency can be observed in response to the treatment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of the dialysis membrane on 25(OH)D, albumin (Alb) and vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP), the major players of vitamin D transport and storage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Alb (Cobas), VDBP (R&D) and 25(OH)D (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) were measured in 75 patients before and after a 4-hour dialysis session. Ten dialysis membranes were used: FX10, FX80, FX800, BK-2.1F, BG-2.1U, Rexeed 15 A, Rexeed 21 A, TS 1.8 SL and TS 2.1 SL manque la ELISIO 21H. Accordingly, 13 patients were dialyzed with membranes possessing high adsorption and high cut-off properties (BK), 17 with membranes possessing high adsorption but usual cut-off properties (BG) and all the remaining 45 patients with polysufone (PS) membranes with usual adsorptive and cut-off properties. Among these 45 patients treated with PS, we compared those treated by classical dialysis (HD) (n = 14) and hemodiafiltration (HDF) (n = 31). Results were corrected for total extracellular volume to take into consideration the hemoconcentration after dialysis. RESULTS: The 3 analytes showed a decreased concentration after the dialysis session. The decrease of ALB, VDBP and 25(OH)D was similar with the adsorptive (BG) and PS membranes. However, patients treated with adsorptive and high cut-off membrane (BK) presented a significantly higher decrease values of Alb (-9.6%[-15.1; -7.5]), of VDBP (-20.6%[-36.6; -17.2] and 25(OH)D (-17%[-27.3; -12.3]) compared to other membranes (BG and PS).When we limited our study to PS membranes, we did not observe any significant difference between the HD or HDF modalities in the decrease for any of the studied parameters. CONCLUSIONS: A significant loss of Alb, VDBP and 25(OH)D occurs after a dialysis session. This loss is significantly more important when patients are dialyzed with high adsorption and high cut-off dialysis membranes.

[Atrial fibrillation and anticoagulation in hemodialysis patients: A complex decision]. / Fibrillation auriculaire et anticoagulation chez le patient hémodialysé : une décision difficile.

Cardiovascular mortality of hemodialysis patients remains a major problem. The prevalence and incidence of atrial fibrillation in this population are more important than in the general population. The indication of antivitamin K therapy (AVK) in this context of atrial fibrillation must be weighted against the increased risk of bleeding. Unfortunately, and contrary to the general population, an indication of anticoagulation based on embolic or hemorrhagic risk scores is not as clearly established in the hemodialysis population. No prospective randomized study has investigated the benefit/risk balance of anticoagulant treatment in hemodialysis subjects. This article is a review of the current literature on this topic, showing the prevalence of thromboembolic but also bleeding events in the hemodialysis population. The impact of AVK treatment in this specific population is also reviewed. To the best of our knowledge, the indication of treatment must be individualized.

Efficiency of delivery observed treatment in hemodialysis patients: the example of the native vitamin D therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Adherence to therapy is a relevant challenge in chronic hemodialysis patients. The directly observed therapy (DOT) could be an effective method to increase adherence for specific therapies. We aimed to study the performance of DOT versus home medication. We follow the impact of providing native vitamin D directly by the nurse after a dialysis session on the 25-hydroxyvitamin [25(OH)D] concentrations. METHODS: In this observational study, we included 38 dialysis patients treated by stable dosage of cholecalciferol. DOT was implemented in December 2010. We considered the concentrations of 25-OH vitamin D three times before (T1 = June 2010, T2 = July 2010 and T3 = September 2010) and three times after the modification of prescription (T4 = February 2011, T5 = March 2011 and T6 = April 2011). RESULTS: Median age was 72 [62; 79] years and 48 % were diabetics. Mean body mass index was 26 ± 5 kg/m(2) and median dialysis vintage was 20 [8; 46] months. The patients were compared to themselves. Before DOT, median concentrations of 25(OH)D were 27 (14-36), 23 (17-31), 31 (22-38) ng/mL at T1, T2 and T3, respectively. When DOT was effective, the concentrations significantly increased to 34 (28-44), 35 (29-41), 39 (32-47) ng/mL at T4, T5 and T6, respectively. Before DOT, 19 patients (50 %) reached the target of 30 ng/mL. After DOT, 29 patients (76 %) reached the target concentration of 30 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: In hemodialysis patients, DOT is both simple and effective to increase the therapeutic impact to native vitamin D.

Detection of decreased glomerular filtration rate in intensive care units: serum cystatin C versus serum creatinine.

BACKGROUND: Detecting impaired glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is important in intensive care units (ICU) in order to diagnose acute kidney injuries and adjust the dose of renally excreted drugs. Whether serum Cystatin C (SCysC) may better reflect glomerular filtration rate than serum creatinine (SCr) in the context of intensive care medicine is uncertain. METHODS: We compared the performance of SCysC and SCr as biomarkers of GFR in 47 critically ill patients (median SOFA (Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment) score of 5) for whom GFR was measured by a reference method (urinary clearance of iohexol). RESULTS: Mean Iohexol clearance averaged 96 ± 54 mL/min and was under 60 mL/min in 28% of patients. Mean SCr and SCysC concentrations were 0.70 ± 0.33 mg/dL and 1.26 ± 0.61 mg/L, respectively. Area under the ROC curve for a GFR threshold of 60 mL/min was 0.799 and 0.942 for SCr and SCysC, respectively (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ScysC significantly outperfoms SCr for the detection of an impaired GFR in critically ill patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: B7072006347.

Parathormone and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase for the follow-up of bone turnover in hemodialysis patients: is it so simple?

BACKGROUND: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is associated with mineral and bone disorders (MBD). International guidelines suggest that levels of serum parathormone (PTH) or bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (b-ALP) can be used to evaluate MBD in dialysis patients. The evidence remains moderate and based on transversal studies. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the variations of PTH (ΔPTH) and b-ALP (Δb-ALP) serum concentrations over a short (6-weeks) and a long (one-year) period in a monocentric hemodialysis population. The proportion of patients reaching the critical difference (CD) (50% for PTH and 25% for b-ALP) was calculated. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients were included. A significant correlation between PTH and b-ALP levels was found at baseline (r=0.51). By contrast, no correlation was observed between ΔPTH and Δb-ALP over a 6-week interval (r=0.07). The CD for PTH and b-ALP was reached by 19 and 11 patients, respectively, with 2 patients showing consistent variations of both biomarkers. One year later, measurements were repeated in 48 survivors. No correlation was found between ΔPTH and Δb-ALP (r=0.27). The CD for PTH or b-ALP was reached by 24 patients and 28 patients, respectively, with 6 patients (12.5%) showing opposite results for both biomarkers. CONCLUSION: This study shows the lack of correlation between ΔPTH and Δb-ALP over time in patients under chronic hemodialysis.

Anorexia nervosa and the kidney.

Anorexia nervosa is a common psychiatric disorder that disproportionately affects adolescents and young adults and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Anorexia nervosa can affect the kidney in numerous ways, including increased rates of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, electrolyte abnormalities, and nephrolithiasis. Additionally, the diagnosis and treatment of anorexia nervosa-associated kidney diseases are challenging, reflecting complications such as refeeding syndrome, as well as the limitations of serum creatinine level in this population to estimate kidney function and the psychosocial challenges inherent with treating systemic manifestations of psychiatric conditions. In this review, we discuss kidney diseases and kidney-associated conditions that occur in individuals with anorexia nervosa, summarizing many of the challenges in treating patients with this disease.

Outcome of the living kidney donor.

Renal transplantation from living kidney donors is still relatively marginal in most of the European countries. However, this source of kidney grafts may help to overcome in part the organ donor shortage of cadaveric donors. The living donor strategy implies correct and objective information about donation risks and completely free acceptance of the living candidate of the donation. In this paper, we reviewed the consequences of kidney donation on the living donor health, considering very short term (linked to the surgery), short term (effect of nephrectomy on glomerular filtration rate) and long term (risk of mortality, chronic kidney disease, proteinuria and hypertension) consequences of kidney donation.