Journal Watch

  • Naturally higher red blood cell counts do NOT reduce survival

    It never made sense to us that a "normal" hemoglobin level would somehow become harmful in kidney failure. And, in fact, it's not the Hgb itself that causes harm. A new DOPPS study of 545 people on dialysis whose Hgbs were normal without ESA drugs found no difference in survival.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

    Tags: Chronic kidney disease

  • Buttonholes made easier with BioHole™ device

    A polycarbonate peg placed in the needle track after dialysis can form buttonholes more quickly and accurately than using cannulation alone. The BioHole peg may help more people use the buttonhole technique—so they can take their treatments home.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

    Tags:

  • Electrolyte management with more-frequent HD

    How do you adjust short daily or nocturnal HD treatments to keep electrolytes in balance? This abstract isn't all that helpful—but you may want to get hold of the whole article.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

    Tags:

  • Better CKD care saves lives

    People who met targets for access, hemoglobin, and blood protein levels before starting dialysis were far more likely to survive the first year, finds a new study of 192,307 patients. But just 2% met all three goals—even when they'd been seeing a nephrologist for a year.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

    Tags: Chronic kidney disease

  • Straight talk: Improve CKD outcomes by prescribing better dialysis

    Longer or more-frequent treatments, better access choices, ultrapure water, and better removal of fluid and toxic middle molecules could improve survival on dialysis, say researchers.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

    Tags: Chronic kidney disease

  • Toronto: 61% of dialysis patients went home

    Imagine what US dialysis would look like if we could do what our neighbors do! A study of 486 people with CKD from 2001-2007 found that, of the 153 who started dialysis, most went home (79 on PD, 15 on home HD). Why (or why not)?

    Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

    Tags: Chronic kidney disease

  • Somebody does it better

    Like the U.S., Australia now requires folks with CKD to be educated about all treatment options. Unlike the U.S., they are following up to see if this is happening. A new study of 721 people with CKD found that 84% had options education before starting treatment. (We'd bet that the rates here are still far, far lower!)

    Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

    Tags: Chronic kidney disease

  • Vytorin® reduced heart attacks & strokes in those with CKD

    In a study of more than 9,000 people, the cholesterol-lowering (statin) drug Vytorin significantly reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes. One-third of those who took part were on dialysis; the rest had stage 3,4, or 5 CKD.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

    Tags: Chronic kidney disease

  • ESAs save lives and dollars in CKD

    Erythrocyte-stimulating agents like EPOGEN, Procrit, and Aranesp have gotten a bad rap lately. A new study looked back at data from 8,188 patients ages 15 or over with CKD and anemia who were enrolled in health plans. The findings: the 14.6% who received ESAs were less likely to be hospitalized or go to the ER, took longer to reach dialysis, were less likely to die in the hospital—and their care cost less, too.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

    Tags: Chronic kidney disease

  • TPA reduces HD catheter infections by 50%

    Heparin is put into HD catheters after each use to prevent blood clots. Researchers replaced it with a clot-busting drug used for strokes—TPA—at one treatment per week. The new routine reduced catheter infections. (Hmmm. Is heparin sterile? What if TPA was used at ALL HD treatments?)

    Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

    Tags: