Evaluation of functional and mental state and quality of life in chronic haemodialysis patients.

Progressive increase of old patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) with a high mortality and morbidity rate, receiving haemodialysis, increases the impact of psychosocial factors on the outcome. Depression is the most prevalent psychological problem in patients in haemodialysis and is associated with a high mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional (ADL, IADL), mental (MMSE, SDS) state and the Quality of Life (KDQOL) in the chronic haemodialysis patients. Old patients can be successfully treated by haemodialysis and therefore age may never be used as exclusion for initiative haemodialysis. Formal geriatric assessment should be imperative for the older person with end stage renal disease since all elderly patients become dependent. The high prevalence of depression in our haemodialysis population needs further investigation.

Personal dialysis capacity (PDC(TM)) test: a multicentre clinical study.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of the peritoneal membrane capacity and physiology of the individual patient is becoming increasingly important. It allows the prescription of an individualized peritoneal dialysis (PD)-regimen, and the monitoring of peritoneal membrane function over time. The PDC(TM) program offers the possibility to evaluate the peritoneal membrane characteristics and to predict solute and water removal by simulation of different treatment regimens. METHODS: This study evaluates the relevance of the PDC(TM) program when routinely used. The PDC(TM) data of 336 patients from nine different centres in Europe were evaluated. RESULTS: The area parameter was 20 985+/-7578 cm/1.73 m(2) (mean+/-SD). The reabsorption of fluid after dissipation of glucose, Jv(AR), was 1.97+/-1.00 ml/min/1.73 m(2). The large pore fluid flux, Jv(L), was 0.11+/-0.07 ml/min/1.73 m(2). A multivariate model for prediction of serum albumin included dialysate protein loss, Jv(L), Jv(AR), nPCR, A(0)/deltaX, BMI and gender (R(2)=0.81, P<0.001). Total clearance fell with increasing PD duration (P<0.001). A negative relation between A(0)/deltaX and ultrafiltration (rho=-0.26, P<0.05), a positive relation between A(0)/deltaX and peritoneal creatinine clearance (rho=0.52, P<0.05) and urea clearance (rho=0.36, P<0.05), and a positive relation between measured peritoneal creatinine and urea clearance (rho=0.64, P<0.01) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the present study shows that the PDC(TM) program is a robust, accurate method to describe the peritoneal membrane transport characteristics. Analysis of PDC(TM) data of large groups of patients, especially if followed up over time, can give interesting information on the physiology of the peritoneal membrane and the impact of different parameters on it.