A comparison of post-transplant renal function in pre-emptive and post-dialysis pediatric kidney transplant recipients.

PURPOSE: Little is known regarding post-transplant renal function following pediatric pre-emptive KT. Therefore, this study aims to determine whether there is a difference in 1 year post-transplant renal function outcomes between pre-emptive and post-dialysis KT in pediatric transplant recipients. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent kidney transplant at our institution between 2000 and 2015 was performed. Kidney transplant recipients were divided into four groups: pre-DD, post-DD, pre-LD, and post-LD. The clinical outcomes, measured in eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2 ), acute rejection episodes within 1 year, and hospitalization within 1 year were compared to between groups in their respective donor types (pre-DD vs post-DD; pre-LD vs post-LD). RESULTS: The 324 patients were identified (21 pre-DD, 151 post-DD, 54 pre-LD, and 98 post-LD). Post-DD group had more females (P = 0.018) and post-operative complications (P = 0.023), although there was no difference in complications requiring intervention (P = 0.129). Post-LD patients were more likely to be females (P = 0.017) and those with intrinsic renal (non-urological/structural) ESRD etiology (P = 0.003). The 1-year eGFR was similar between pre-DD and post-DD groups (70.3 [IQR 53.5-88.5] vs 74.3 [IQR 62.3-90.5], P = 0.613), as well as pre-LD and post-LD groups (66.6 [IQR 47.8-73.7] vs 63.9 [IQR 55.0-77.1], P = 0.600). There were no significant differences in rates of acute rejection episodes or hospitalization within 1 year of transplantation for in LD/DD groups. CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference in renal function at 1 year post-transplant in pediatric patients receiving pre-emptive or post-dialysis kidney transplants.

Assessment of perioperative surgical complications in pediatric kidney transplantation: A comparison of pre-emptive and post-dialysis recipients.

PURPOSE: To determine whether there is a benefit to pre-emptive kidney transplantation in reducing surgical complications in pediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective review of kidney transplantations in our institution from 2000 to 2015 was performed. Intra- and postoperative complication rates and one-year graft survival were compared in their respective donor type groups (pre-emptive DD vs post-dialysis DD; pre-emptive LD vs post-dialysis LD). RESULTS: A total of 318 patients were identified (pre-emptive DD, n = 21; post-dialysis DD, n = 145; pre-emptive LD, n = 54; post-dialysis LD, n = 98). Between the DD groups, post-dialysis DD group was more likely to be female (P = 0.017). There was no difference in rates of intraoperative complications or graft loss (P = 0.365 and 1.000, respectively). Post-dialysis DD groups were more likely to have postoperative complications (9.5% vs 35.1%, P = 0.023), but no difference in complications with Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or higher was found (P = 0.130). Between the LD groups, post-dialysis LD group was more likely to be females (P = 0.017) and with intrinsic renal (non-urological/structural) ESRD etiology (P = 0.003). There was no difference in rates of intra-and postoperative complications or graft loss (P = 0.353, P = 0.605, and P = 0.616, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there are similar perioperative complication rates between pediatric pre-emptive and post-dialysis kidney transplant recipients.

Prevalence and associated variables of post-dialysis fatigue: Results of a prospective multicentre study.

AIM: The study aims to determine prevalence and severity of PDF and to define its associated variables. METHODS: In five haemodialysis units of northern-centre Italy, patients were regarded to suffer from PDF if they spontaneously offered this complaint when asked the open-ended question: Do you feel better or worse after dialysis? If worse, please specify in which way. A complaint of fatigue would be probed further with questions directed at its duration, frequency and intensity, allowing creation of a fatigue index of severity (one third of the sum of these three parameters, each rated from 1 to 5). Patients were stratified into three groups according the severity of PDF: 1) score = 0; 2) score = 1-3; 3) score > 3. RESULTS: We studied 271 patients: 164 had PDF and 107 did not. PDF patients had significantly longer time of recovery after dialysis (TIRD). TIRD was significantly associated with PDF duration, intensity, and frequency. Patients with PDF were older and had a lower ADL score. At multivariate analysis, PDF was significantly associated with TIRD. In a multivariate model that did not include TIRD, PDF was independently associated with age and ADL. Sixty patients had moderate PDF and 104 had severe PDF. In patients with severe PDF, age and dialytic age were higher, ADL and IADL scores were lower, TIRD was longer and the ultrafiltration rate was lower. At multivariate analysis, PDF severity was independently associated with TIRD. In the model without TIRD, PDF severity was associated with ADL only. CONCLUSION: Post-dialysis fatigue is frequent and associated with age and ADL. Dialytic variables seem unrelated to PDF.

A Pseudo-One Compartment Model of Phosphorus Kinetics During Hemodialysis: Further Supporting Evidence.

A pseudo-one compartment model has been proposed to describe phosphorus kinetics during hemodialysis and the immediate post-dialysis period. This model assumes that phosphorus mobilization from tissues is proportional to the difference between the pre-dialysis serum concentration (a constant) and the instantaneous serum concentration. The current study is exploratory and evaluated the ability of a pseudo-one compartment model to describe the kinetics of phosphorus during two short hemodialysis treatments separated by a 60-min inter-treatment period without dialysis; the latter is the post-dialysis rebound period for the first short hemodialysis treatment. Serum was collected frequently during both hemodialysis treatments and the inter-treatment period to assess phosphorus kinetics in 21 chronic hemodialysis patients. Phosphorus mobilization clearance and pre-dialysis central distribution volume were previously estimated for each patient during the first hemodialysis treatment and the inter-treatment period. Assuming those kinetic parameters remained constant for each patient, serum phosphorus concentrations during the second treatment were used to estimate the driving force concentration (Cdf ) for phosphorus mobilization from tissues during the second treatment. Treatment time (117 ± 14 [mean ± standard deviation] vs. 117 ± 14 min), dialyzer phosphorus clearance (151 ± 25 vs. 140 ± 32 mL/min), and net fluid removal (1.44 ± 0.74 vs. 1.47 ± 0.76 L) were similar during both short hemodialysis treatments. Measured phosphorus concentration at the start of the second hemodialysis treatment (3.3 ± 0.9 mg/dL) was lower (P < 0.001) than at the start of the first treatment or Cpre (5.4 ± 1.9 mg/dL). Calculated Cdf was 4.9 ± 2.0 mg/dL, not significantly different from Cpre (P = 0.12). Cdf and Cpre were correlated (R = 0.72, P < 0.001). The results from this study demonstrate that the driving force concentration for phosphorus mobilization during hemodialysis is constant and not different from that pre-dialysis, providing further evidence supporting a fundamental assumption of the pseudo-one compartment model.

Recurrent localized fever caused by cryoglobulinemic vasculitis following hemodialysis: A case report.

Post-dialysis fever is commonly reported in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). However, it is often challenging to identify the underlying cause owing to the wide variety of potential factors that can lead to fever. In this case, a 66-year-old Japanese man experienced recurrent fever after HD treatment. Initially, antibiotics were prescribed to treat pneumonia, but it was later discovered that the pneumonia was an alveolar hemorrhage caused by cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. It is believed that cryoglobulin was sensitized by cold exposure owing to the dialysate temperature, which resulted in fever being experienced only after HD. Although treatment for vasculitis required prednisolone and rituximab, simple plasma exchange and a dialysate temperature of 37.5 °C dramatically suppressed the occurrence of post-dialysis fever. Cryoglobulinemia should be considered as a potential cause of fever, as it may be a common occurrence in patients undergoing HD and could be overlooked as a possible cause of localized fever following HD treatment.

Predictors of Fatigue Among Patients on Hemodialysis: An Observational Study.

Background Hemodialysis is a chronic replacement therapy recommended during end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Post-dialysis fatigue (PDF) is one of the symptoms patients experience after the treatment. This multifactorial condition is subjective and characterized by a lack of physical and emotional energy. It can be associated with other symptoms such as nausea, headache, muscle cramps, and hypotension. Currently, researchers have not been able to find defined etiologies and pathogenesis. This study aims to analyze the influence of PDF predictors within a sample of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methodology A multicenter, observational study was conducted on a convenience sample of 250 CKD patients with ESRD on hemodialysis between February and July 2023. PDF was assessed using the Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), administered in both paper and electronic formats. The data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics and correlation tests. Results The analysis revealed that sleep disorders perceived (p = 0.0001; τ = 0.23), the presence of comorbidity (p = 0.003; τ = 0.18), the number of weekly sessions (p = 0.012; τ = 0.15), and the period of hemodialysis (p = 0.0069; τ = 0.15) had a positive correlation with the PFS score. The study highlighted that hemoglobin level (p = 0.017; τ = - 0.14) and sex (p = 0.012; τ = 0.15) affected the PDF perception. Patients who engaged in physical activities or used distraction techniques (p = 1.83e-05; τ = 0.26) to alleviate PDF reported lower average scores on the PFS (2.27 points) compared to those who did not engage in any such activities. Conclusions Hemodialysis appears to be a source of stress for most patients, as they showed a moderate-to-severe score on the PFS scale. PDF is a multifactorial problem that must be recognized and treated properly by nurses through pharmacological therapies, as well as by educating and providing alternative strategies, that can contribute to alleviating the effects of fatigue.

Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors Is Not Associated with Post-Dialysis Fatigue and Time of Recovery after Dialysis in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Objectives: To define if the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) is associated with PDF prevalence and characteristics and with time of recovery after dialysis in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Methods: Patients were defined as experiencing PDF if they spontaneously offered this complaint when asked the open-ended question: "Do you feel fatigued after dialysis?". Time of recovery after dialysis (TIRD) was also assessed for each patient. Each patient was invited to rate the intensity, duration and frequency of PDF from 1 to 5. We defined if patients used PPI (no PPI use or PPI use), the type of used PPI, the dose of used PPI, and the duration of the use of PPI (<1 year or ≥1 year). Results: A total of 346 patients were studied: 259 used PPI (55 used omeprazole, 63 esomeprazole, 54 pantoprazole, 87 lansoprazole, and 7 rabeprazole) and 87 did not. Two hundred and thirty-two patients declared PDF and 114 did not. The median [min-max] TIRD was 210 min [0-1440]. The prevalence of PDF in PPI users and PPI non-users was 67% and 68%, respectively (p = 0.878). The median [min-max] TIRD did not differ significantly between PPI users and PPI non-users (180 [0-1440] and 240 [0-1440], respectively; p = 0.871). Median PDF intensity, duration, frequency, and severity did not differ significantly between PPI use and no use. The prevalence of PDF was similar among the different types of PPI use and did not differ with respect to PPI non-users. Duration of PPI exposure was <1 year in 40 patients and ≥1 year in 219 patients. The prevalence of PDF did not differ between the two exposures. The correlation matrix between PPI equivalent dose, PPI treatment duration and PDF frequency, PDF characteristics, and TIRD showed whether there was statistical significance. Conclusions: The use of PPI is not associated with PDF and time of recovery after dialysis in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Association of segmental wall motion abnormalities occurring during hemodialysis with post-dialysis fatigue.

BACKGROUND: Post-dialysis fatigue (PDF) is a common, debilitating symptom that remains poorly understood. Cardiac wall motion abnormalities (WMAs) may worsen during dialysis, but it is unknown whether WMA are associated with PDF. METHODS: Forty patients were recruited from University of California San Francisco-affiliated dialysis units between January 2010 and February 2011. Participants underwent echocardiograms before and during the last hour of 79 dialysis sessions. Myocardial segments were graded 1-4 by a blinded reviewer, with four representing the worst WMA, and the segmental scores were summed for each echocardiogram. Patients completed questionnaires about their symptoms. Severe PDF (defined as lasting >2 h after dialysis) was analysed using a generalized linear model with candidate predictors including anemia, intradialytic hemodynamics and cardiac function. RESULTS: Forty-four percent of patients with worsened WMA (n=9) had severe PDF, compared with 13% of patients with improved or unchanged WMA (P = 0.04). A one-point increase in the WMA score during dialysis was associated with a 10% higher RR of severe PDF [RR: 1.1, 95% CI (1.1, 1.2), P < 0.001]. After multivariable adjustment, every point increase in the WMA score was associated with a 2-fold higher risk of severe PDF [RR: 1.9, 95% CI (1.4, 2.6), P < 0.001]. History of depression was associated with severe PDF after adjustment for demographics and comorbidities [RR: 3.4, 95% CI (1.3, 9), P = 0.01], but anemia, hemodynamics and other parameters of cardiac function were not. CONCLUSIONS: Although cross-sectional, these results suggest that some patients may experience severe PDF as a symptom of cardiac ischemia occurring during dialysis.

Association between corrected serum calcium levels after dialysis and post-dialysis fatigue risk: a hospital-based case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Post-dialysis fatigue (PDF) is an important problem in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD); however, evidence of the association between serum calcium after dialysis and the risk of PDF is limited and controversial. We explored this association among patients receiving MHD. METHODS: We carried out a case-control study of patients in the dialysis unit of Dalian Municipal Central Hospital between December 2019 and January 2020, including 340 patients with PDF and 270 patients without PDF. PDF was assessed by a \validated self-administered questionnaire. Clinical variables were tested for multicollinearity using variance inflation factor analysis. Corrected serum calcium levels were categorized into three groups, with the lowest tertile used as the reference category. The odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for PDF risk were estimated using an unconditional logistic regression model. RESULT: After adjusting for potential confounders, corrected serum calcium levels showed a significant positive association with the risk of PDF (ORT3vs.T1 = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.01-2.58). Notably, after stratification by age, corrected serum calcium was also positively associated with the risk of PDF in patients aged ≥ 65 years (ORT3vs.T1 = 4.25, 95% CI 1.66-11.46). Furthermore, a significant linear trend and interaction were also observed (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Higher corrected serum calcium levels after dialysis might increase the risk of PDF among MHD patients. However, further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Post-dialysis fatigue: Comparison of bicarbonate hemodialysis and online hemodiafiltration.

INTRODUCTION: The present cross-sectional study aimed to compare the prevalence, the characteristics of post-dialysis fatigue and the length of recovery time after hemodialysis in prevalent end-stage renal disease patients (ESRD) receiving bicarbonate hemodialysis (HD) or hemodiafiltration (HDF). METHODS: Patients were suffering from post-dialysis fatigue if they spontaneously offered this complaint when asked the open-ended question: "Do you feel fatigued after dialysis?". Moreover, each patient was invited to rate the intensity, duration, and frequency of post-dialysis fatigue from 1 to 5. In order to assess RECOVERY TIME AFTER DIALYSIS, patients were invited to answer to the following single open-ended question: "How long does it take you to recover from a dialysis session?" FINDINGS: We included 335 patients: 252 received HD and 83 received HDF. Post-dialysis fatigue was present in 204 patients (60.9%). Prevalence of post-dialysis fatigue did not differ significantly between patients on HD (62.3%) and on HDF (56.6%; p = 0.430). Median recovery time after dialysis was 180 min [180-240] and did not differ significantly between the two subgroups (180 min [130-240] and 240 min [120-332] p = 0.671, respectively). Median post-dialysis fatigue intensity, duration, and frequency were 3 [1-5], 3 [1-5], and 4 [1-5] and did not differ significantly between patients on HD and on HDF. At the multivariate analysis, age, ADL and hemoglobin levels were the independent predictors of the HDF treatment. DISCUSSION: Prevalence and characteristics of post-dialysis fatigue do not differ significantly between patients receiving bicarbonate HD or HDF.

Improved nursing home end-stage renal disease patient participation in physical therapy with onsite, more frequent dialysis.

INTRODUCTION: For end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients residing in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), the logistics and physical exhaustion of life-saving hemodialysis therapy often conflict with rehabilitation goals. Integration of dialysis care with rehabilitation programs in a scalable and cost-efficient manner has been a significant challenge. SNF-resident ESRD patients receiving onsite, more frequent hemodialysis (MFD) have reported rapid post-dialysis recovery. We examined whether such patients have improved Physical Therapy (PT) participation. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective electronic medical records review of SNF-resident PT participation rates within a multistate provider of SNF rehabilitation care from January 1, 2022 to June 1, 2022. We compared three groups: ESRD patients receiving onsite MFD (Onsite-MFD), ESRD patients receiving offsite, conventional 3×/week dialysis (Offsite-Conventional-HD), and the general non-ESRD SNF rehabilitation population (Non-ESRD). We evaluated physical therapy participation rates based on a predefined metric of missed or shortened (<15 min) therapy days. Baseline demographics and functional status were assessed. FINDINGS: Ninety-two Onsite-MFD had 2084 PT sessions scheduled, 12,916 Non-ESRD had 225,496 PT sessions scheduled, and 562 Offsite-Conventional-HD had 9082 PT sessions scheduled. In mixed model logistic regression, Onsite-MFD achieved higher PT participation rates than Offsite-Conventional-HD (odds ratio: 1.8, CI: 1.1-3.0; p < 0.03), and Onsite-MFD achieved equivalent PT participation rates to Non-ESRD (odds ratio: 1.2, CI: 0.3-1.9; p < 0.46). Baseline mean ± SD Charlson Comorbidity score was significantly higher in Onsite-MFD (4.9 ± 2.0) and Offsite-Conventional-HD (4.9 ± 1.8) versus Non-ESRD (2.6 ± 2.0; p < 0.001). Baseline mean self-care and mobility scores were significantly lower in Onsite-MFD versus Non-ESRD or Offsite-Conventional-HD. DISCUSSION: SNF-resident ESRD patients receiving MFD colocated with rehabilitation had higher PT participation rates than those conventionally dialyzed offsite and equivalent PT participation rates to the non-ESRD SNF-rehabilitation general population, despite being sicker, less independent, and less mobile. We report a scalable program integrating dialysis and rehabilitation care as a potential solution for ESRD patients recovering from acute hospitalization.

Post-dialysis recovery time in ESRD patients receiving more frequent hemodialysis in skilled nursing facilities.

INTRODUCTION: Post-dialysis recovery time (DRT) has an important relationship to quality of life and survival, as identified in studies of ESRD patients on conventional dialysis. ESRD patients are often discharged from hospitals to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) where on-site treatment using home hemodialysis technology is increasingly offered, but nothing is known about DRT in this patient population. METHODS: From November 4, 2019 to June 11, 2021, within a dialysis organization providing service across 12 states and 154 SNFs, patients receiving in-SNF, more frequent dialysis (MFD) (modeled to deliver 14 treatment hours minimum per week and stdKt/V ≥2.0) were asked to describe their post-dialysis recovery time following their previous treatment, within predefined categoric choices: 0-½, ½-1, 1-2, 2-4, 4-8, 8-12 h, by next morning, or not even by next morning. Patients reporting DRT following at least one full-week treatment opportunity were included in a mixed model logistic regression of rapid recovery (DRT ≤2 h). FINDINGS: Two thousand three hundred and nine patients met the statistical modeling inclusion criteria, providing DRT on 108,876 dialysis sessions, while receiving mean (SD) 4.3 (0.96) weekly dialysis treatments. 2118 (92%) reported DRT ≤2 h. Results appeared biologically plausible, as lower odds of rapid DRT were observed for patients who were older, missed their previous treatment, or experienced intradialytic hypotension. Greater odds of rapid DRT were observed in patients receiving five dialyses in the previous week or having 160-179 mmHg pre-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure. Rapid recovery was associated with reduced mortality or hospitalization. DISCUSSION: SNF dialysis patients receiving 5x per week MFD report rapid recovery time ≤2 h in 92% of dialyses despite advanced age, frailty, and comorbidities. Future studies will assess the practical ramifications of rapid DRT perception/experience on nursing home rehabilitation programs, which could impact patient health beyond the nursing home stay.

Clinical Assessment of Dialysis Recovery Time and Symptom Burden: Impact of Switching Hemodialysis Therapy Mode.

INTRODUCTION: Most people on hemodialysis (HD) report a high symptom burden. Fatigue and lack of energy are prominent, interfering with daily life and associated with poor outcome. Prolonged recovery time after each of the thrice weekly dialysis treatments is common. The impact of HD therapies, like expanded hemodialysis (HDx), on patient reported recovery time and symptom burden is unclear. METHODS: A dialysis unit decided to perform regular assessments of patient-reported symptom burden, using the POS-S Renal Symptom questionnaire and the "Recovery time from last dialysis session" question as part of routine patient focused care. At a similar time, a clinical evidence-based decision was taken to switch the in-center dialysis cohort from regular high-flux dialysis membrane to medium cut-off (MCO) membrane, introducing HDx therapy. RESULTS: Quarterly assessment of patient-reported symptom burden was well accepted. A sustained clinically relevant reduction in post-dialysis recovery time was observed following the therapy switch. In patients providing data up to 12 months (N = 58), median recovery time decreased from 210 min (IQR 7.5-600) to 60 min (0-210; p = 0.002) and 105 min (0-180; p = 0.001) at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Thirty-six percent of individuals reported a recovery time longer than 360 minutes at the initial assessment, which decreased to 9% at 12 months. The POS-S Renal total symptom score showed a decrease at 6 months but no difference from baseline at 12 months. The "fatigue/lack of energy" symptom showed a sustained improvement; the percentage of participants scoring its impact as "severe" or "overwhelming" decreased from 28% at baseline to 16% at 12 months. Changes in other symptoms were more variable. CONCLUSION: Regular assessment of patient reported symptoms is feasible in routine dialysis practice and can help in evaluating the impact of clinical interventions. Observations suggest that HDx therapy may reduce post-dialysis recovery time and improve perceived fatigue level.

Long-term intradialytic hybrid exercise training on fatigue symptoms in patients receiving hemodialysis therapy.

PURPOSE: Hemodialysis (HD) patients suffer from generalized weakness, exercise intolerance and muscle atrophy, all leading to generalized fatigue and lack of energy. HD patients spend at least 50% of their time in a functionally "switch off" mode with their fatigue sensations reaching a peak in the immediate hours after the dialysis session. The purpose of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of a nine-month hybrid intradialytic exercise program on fatigue symptoms occurring during and after hemodialysis session. METHODS: Twenty stable hemodialysis patients were included in the study (59 ± 13.7 years; 16 males). All patients completed a 9-month supervised exercise training program composed of both aerobic cycling and resistance training during HD. Aspects related to physical and generalized fatigue were assessed via validated questionnaires, while physical performance was assessed by a battery of tests, before and after the intervention period. RESULTS: Exercise capacity and physical performance were increased by an average of 65 and 40%, respectively. Patients reported feeling better during post-dialysis hours in question 1 (p = 0.000), question 3 (p = 0.009) and question 4 (p = 0.003) after the 9-month intervention. In addition, exercise training improved scores in cognitive function (p = 0.037), vitality (p = 0.05), depression (p = 0.000) and fatigue (p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: The present study showed that a 9-month hybrid (aerobic + resistance) exercise training program improved symptoms of post-dialysis fatigue and overall general perception of fatigue. Hybrid exercise training is a safe and effective non-pharmacological approach to ameliorate fatigue symptoms in HD patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Trial registration number The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01721551, 2012) as a clinical trial.

Do biochemical parameters and intradialytic symptoms affect post-dialysis recovery time? A prospective, descriptive study.

The recovery time is defined as the time required to recover from the feelings of lassitude and fatigue. The daily activities of patients are affected by dialysis sessions, requiring significant time for patients to return to their routines. This situation implies a lower quality of life for HD patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of biochemical parameters and intradialytic symptoms on post-dialysis recovery time in maintenance HD patients. This study was conducted at a private dialysis center during June and August 2019. Data were collected using the "Descriptive Characteristics Form" and the "Dialysis Symptom Index." "STROBE check-list" was used for the report of the study. The study was completed with 86 participants. The median post-dialysis recovery time was 240 min (interquartile range, 120-360 min), and female patients exhibit significantly higher recovery time than male patients. The median BMI was statistically significantly higher in patients whose post-dialysis recovery time was ≥240 min. Additional findings show that the post-dialysis recovery time was shortened by 0.230 times for male patients, while intradialytic hypotension (IDH) prolonged the median post-dialysis recovery time by 3.141 times. Factors underlying the IDH should be determined in order to eradicate the issue. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with the number NCT04274556.

Effect of hemodialysis on circulating cystatin c levels in patients with end stage renal disease.

Plasma cystatin C is an emerging parameter to assess kidney function. Its utility in assessing the adequacy of hemodialysis in patients with end-stage-renal disease has however not been established with certainty. This study was therefore carried out to assess the usefulness of serum cystatin C estimation in patients undergoing low flux membrane hemodialysis. Serum creatinine and cystatin C were estimated in 20 patients before and after undergoing hemodialysis. The mean serum creatinine decreased from a pre-dialysis value of 7.72 mg/dL to a post-dialysis value of 2.90 mg/dL. On the contrary, the mean serum cystatin C levels were found to increase from a pre-dialysis value of 5.97 mg/L to a post-dialysis value of 8.25 mg/L. Therefore, serum cystatin C cannot be used to monitor dialysis adequacy. It however, serves as a surrogate marker of the inadequacy of low flux membrane bicarbonate hemodialysis in clearing low molecular weight proteins from the circulation.

Intensity, Duration, and Frequency of Post-Dialysis Fatigue in Patients on Chronic Haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Although frequent and debilitating, little is known about the characteristics of post-dialysis fatigue (PDF). OBJECTIVE: To characterise the intensity, duration and frequency of PDF and the associated variables in patients on chronic haemodialyses. DESIGN: Prospective, observational and multicenter study. PATIENTS: We studied 271 patients. MEASUREMENTS: Patients were considered to be suffering from PDF if they spontaneously offered this complaint when asked the open-ended question: "Do you feel fatigued after dialysis? Then, each patient was invited to rate the intensity, duration and frequency of PDF from 1 to 5. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-four patients (60.5%) had PDF. The median [95% confidence interval (CI)] scores of PDF intensity, duration and frequency were 3 (3-4), 3 (3-4) and 4 (4-4), respectively. The median (95% CI) of the sum of the scores (Sum Score) of PDF intensity, duration and frequency was 11 (10-12). Seventy four patients had a Sum Score ≥ 12. Using multiple regression analysis, PDF intensity was associated with dialytic age and ultrafiltration rate (UFR), PDF duration with dialytic age, while PDF fatigue frequency was associated with height. The Sum Score was associated with dialytic age and recovery time and negatively associated with daily activity, height and UFR (ml/kg/h). CONCLUSION: The intensity, duration and frequency of PDF are high in a large percentage of patients, suggesting that PDF is an intense event in terms of quantity and quality. Understanding the relationship between the variables associated with PDF and its intensity, duration and frequency may help better understand the underlying mechanisms of this burdensome condition.

Use of body composition measurements to guide the assessment of dry weight in anuric dialysis patients: improvements in blood pressure control.

PURPOSE: Fluid management using a body composition monitor (BCM) based on bioimpedance spectroscopy has been found to be beneficial for maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Our purpose was to provide a management procedure for the adjustment of post-dialysis overhydration (OHpost) and to evaluate whether this approach could improve blood pressure. METHODS: Post-dialysis fluid status was assessed weekly using the BCM. The reference value of OHpost and the flow procedure for post-dialysis target weight (PDTW) adjustment were established via measurements of OHpost in 60 normotensive MHD patients. In the interventional study, we adjusted the PDTW of hypertensive patients to the optimal OHpost range, with a 0.2-0.5 kg change in PDTW per week. RESULTS: This observational study included 130 anuric MHD patients, of whom 60 were in the pre-dialysis systolic blood pressure (sBPpre) < 140 mmHg group. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that only OHpost was significantly associated with sBPpre ≥ 140 mmHg (odds ratio = 2.293, p = 0.000). Patients in the OHpost < -1.8 L group were mainly male and younger, and had higher post-dialysis diastolic blood pressure, ultrafiltration volume, levels of nutrition markers (serum albumin and creatinine), body mass index, and lean tissue index (LTI). On multiple stepwise regression analysis, only the change in LTI was found to be an independent predictor of OHpost [R2 0.208, ß = -0.196, 95% CI (-0.296, -0.095), p < 0.001]. The reference value of OHpost was found to deviate by - 2.5-0.5 L from that of normotensive patients. At the end of the study, the systolic blood pressure of 38 patients was less than 140 mmHg after PDTW adjustment. The changes in OHpost from the initial to last adjustment were significant (t = 5.431, p <  0.001), with a substantial decrease in the sBPpre (t = 11.208, p <  0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of OHpost and LTI using a BCM with a patient-specific optimal PDTW adjustment flow can lead to significantly better control of hypertension in anuric MHD patients.

Postdialysis Hypokalemia and All-Cause Mortality in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Almost half of patients on dialysis demonstrate a postdialysis serum potassium ≤3.5 mEq/L. We aimed to examine the relationship between postdialysis potassium levels and all-cause mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS, & MEASUREMENTS: We conducted a cohort study of 3967 participants on maintenance hemodialysis from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study in Japan (2009-2012 and 2012-2015). Postdialysis serum potassium was measured repeatedly at 4-month intervals and used as a time-varying variable. We estimated the hazard ratio of all-cause mortality rate using Cox hazard regression models, with and without adjusting for time-varying predialysis serum potassium. Models were adjusted for baseline characteristics and time-varying laboratory parameters. We also analyzed associations of combinations of pre- and postdialysis potassium with mortality. RESULTS: The age of participants at baseline was 65±12 years (mean±SD), 2552 (64%) were men, and 96% were treated with a dialysate potassium level of 2.0 to <2.5 mEq/L. The median follow-up period was 2.6 (interquartile range, 1.3-2.8) years. During the follow-up period, 562 (14%) of 3967 participants died, and the overall mortality rate was 6.7 per 100 person-years. Compared with postdialysis potassium of 3.0 to <3.5 mEq/L, the hazard ratios of postdialysis hypokalemia (<3.0 mEq/L) were 1.84 (95% confidence interval, 1.44 to 2.34) in the unadjusted model, 1.44 (95% confidence interval, 1.14 to 1.82) in the model without adjusting for predialysis serum potassium, and 1.10 (95% confidence interval, 0.84 to 1.44) in the model adjusted for predialysis serum potassium. The combination of pre- and postdialysis hypokalemia was associated with the highest mortality risk (hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.35 to 2.19, reference; pre- and postdialysis nonhypokalemia). CONCLUSIONS: Postdialysis hypokalemia was associated with mortality, but this association was not independent of predialysis potassium.