BACKGROUND Excess cardiovascular mortality has been documented in chronic haemodialysis patients. Oxidative stress is greater in haemodialysis patients with prevalent cardiovascular disease than in those without, suggesting a role for oxidative stress in excess cardiovascular disease in haemodialysis. We investigated the effect of high-dose vitamin E supplementation on cardiovascular disease ou...

Vascular calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease was mentioned for the first time in the 19 century when Virchow described the appearance of metastatic calcification in patients with kidney failure. The subject has gained great interest in recent years as many studies described that a high percentage of patients on chronic haemodialysis show vascular calcification, the extent of w...

BACKGROUND Aggression on haemodialysis units is a growing problem internationally that has received little research attention to date. Aggressive behaviour by patients or their relatives can compromise the safety and well-being of staff and other patients sharing a haemodialysis session. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the study were twofold: First, to identify the prevalance and nature of aggre...

AIM The study aimed to describe end of life for patients treated with maintenance haemodialysis as narrated by their close relatives. INTRODUCTION Many patients undergoing haemodialysis are older, have several comorbidities and underestimated symptoms and are in their last year of life. To improve care, we need to know more about their end-of-life situation. DESIGN Qualitative and descripti...

AIMS To investigate the effect of haemodialysis on retinal circulation in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). METHOD Seventeen consecutive patients with ESRD were recruited into the study. The authors simultaneously measured changes in vessel diameter and blood velocity and calculated the retinal blood flow (RBF) in the retinal veins in patients with ESRD before and after haemodialy...

Since it was introduced in 1976, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) has won acceptance in many centres and it is now regarded as an important alternative to haemodialysis. CAPD patients have comparable and, in some circumstances, better survival than those on chronic haemodialysis. It is indicated particularly in patients with diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular instability and at t...

BACKGROUND In congenital or acquired antithrombin III-deficient patients undergoing haemodialysis, coagulation or residual blood in the blood circuit and dialyser is commonly observed under anticoagulation with heparin. Argatroban, a synthetic thrombin antagonist, directly inhibits thrombin activity in a manner that is different from that of heparin, thereby displaying an anticoagulating effect...

OBJECTIVE Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common causes of mortality in renal failure patients undergoing haemodialysis. A high turnover rate of the proteoglycan versican, represented by the increased presence of its fragmentation products in plasma, has previously been associated with cardiovascular diseases. The objective of the study was to investigate the association of versican ...

haemodialysis in many countries [7]. This reduction in Rise and fall of home haemodialysis home haemodialysis has been attributed to the increased age and co-morbidity of patients now comHome haemodialysis has been utilized successfully in mencing long-term dialysis, but the number of low risk the treatment of end-stage renal failure (ESRF ) since patients beginning dialysis, who would have bee...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Patients requiring haemodialysis have cardiovascular and immune dysfunction. Little is known about the acute effects of exercise during haemodialysis. Exercise has numerous health benefits but in other populations has a profound impact upon blood pressure, inflammation and immune function; therefore having the potential to exacerbate cardiovascular and immune dysfunction in this...