A fter three decades during which the treatment of end-stage renal disease (esRd) has altered very little, things are at last starting to change. And one of the companies driving that change is Alcester, uK-based Quanta Fluid Solutions Ltd., a venture-backed concern that is hoping to make its market debut later this year. Also known as chronic renal failure, esRd occurs when kidney function is ...

T he greatest benefit of peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the continuous nature of the therapy, which results in steady-state levels of electrolytes as well as fluid and acid–base balance. A continuous sodium removal reduces water intake and makes appropriate fluid management possible, even if the ultrafiltration (UF) volume is small. Peritoneal dialysis is also beneficial in maintaining residual re...

BACKGROUND Glucose degradation products (GDP) are an important factor that contribute to bioincompatibility of peritoneal dialysis fluids. These substances are generated in the dialysis fluid during heat sterilization. Several approaches have been proposed to reduce the content or toxicity, or both, of GDP present in the dialysis fluid. We examined whether L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid ...

BACKGROUND Preserved residual kidney function (RKF) and normal fluid status are associated with better patient outcomes in incident haemodialysis patients. The objective of this trial is to determine whether using bioimpedance technology in prescribing the optimal post-dialysis weight can reduce the rate of decline of RKF and potentially improve patient outcomes. METHODS/DESIGN 516 pateints c...

Seven patients with chronic renal failure treated with haemodialysis for 4 to 24 months were found to have low exchangeable potassium levels. Before dialysis the plasma potassium was normal or somewhat raised (possibly owing to acidosis), though the exchangeable potassium was low. Acidosis was corrected during dialysis; plasma potassium levels fell, but clinical and electrocardiographic changes...

275 chorea occurs when the function of the corpus striatum is disrupted, the specific abnormality in Sydenham's chorea is unknown. The response to valproic acid suggests that the defect affects the GABA neurotransmitter system. Possibly the difference in effectiveness of valproic acid between Sydenham's chorea and Huntington's chorea reflects the degree of severity of the pathologic process or,...

Although there have been many advancements in the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) over the last 50 years, in terms of reducing cardiovascular risk, mortality remains unacceptably high, particularly for those patients who progress to stage 5 CKD and initiate dialysis (CKD5d). As mortality risk increases exponentially with progressive CKD stage, the question arises as to w...

CONTEXT In light of conflicting evidence of differential effects of dialysis modality on survival, patient experience becomes a more important consideration in choosing between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. OBJECTIVE To compare patient satisfaction with hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in a cohort of patients who have recently begun dialysis. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional s...

BACKGROUND Patients on standard dialysis, in particular those on high-flux and high-efficiency dialysis, are exposed to hundreds of liters of dialysis-water per week. The quality of dialysis-water is a factor responsible for inflammation in dialysis patients. Inflammation is a potent trigger of atherosclerosis and a pathogenetic factor in anemia, increasing mortality and morbidity in dialysis p...