Tehran University Medical Journal

Background and Aim: What constitutes adequate dialysis has been debated in the nephrology literature over the past years. We believed that short and infrequent dialysis session contributed to poor outcome. This result provides additional evidence that (KT/V) in a flawed concept upon which to based the dose dialysis in general. Base on published evidence from many source we proposed a new index of adequacy of hemodialysis to be called hemodialysis product (HDP).

Materials and Methods: The prospective study was performed on 100 dialysis patient in the Imam hospital dialysis ward in Tehran during 2002. delivered (KT/V) and (HDP) achieved for any patient separated. Results: 100 patients including 44 female and 56 male were studied. Result has shown (KT/V) d≥ 1 in 43% and (KT/V) d< 1 in 57%. HDP in patient with (KT/V) d > 1 were ≥ 36. HDP in patient with (KT/V) d < 1 were < 36. Correlation between (KT/V) d and albumin was significant (p< 0.03, Albumin ≥ 4 mg/dl). Correlation between (KT/V) d and cholesterol, hemoglobin, creatinine were not significant. Correlation between (KT/V) d and HDP was significant (p< 0.001).

Conclusion: Finding above has shown that higher weekly delivered (KT/V) correlate with dialysis result increase hemodialysis product (HDP). More frequent and session dialysis results increase in HDP, provide better weekly (KT/V) d with normal albumin (show good caloric and protein intake).

Background: Cardiovascular problems including arterial hypertension, coronary artery diseases, congestive heart failure are prevalent among chronic hemodialyzed patients. Ultrafiltration of hemodialyzed patient's serum, which culminating in intravascular volume reduction, is frequently used during hemodialysis. One of the restrictions of the echocardiographic evaluation of the diastolic heart function is the intravascular volume dependency of some echocardiographic parameters. In this study we have evaluated the volume dependency of certain echocardiography parameters in chronically hemodialyzed patients.

Methods: Thirteen patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in Ghaem Hospital Hemodialysis Center in Mashhad, Iran, were evaluated one hour before and immediately after hemodialysis for the following: all diastolic echocardiographic parameters, left ventricular function, left ventricular systolic function, inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter and IVC collapsibility with inspiration, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The echocardiographic parameters were analyzed using the paired Student's t-test.

Results: With hemodialysis, there was no significant change in left ventricular function, A wave amplitude and E/F slope, however, there was a significant reduction of the E wave amplitude, increment in E wave deceleration time (p= 0.001, t=-4.14) and a decrease in the E/A ratio (p=0.03, t=2.46). Tissue Doppler echocardiography showed no significant change in mitral annular diastolic motion, E'/A' waves, with hemodialysis (p=0.728, t= - 0.356), although there was a reduction of the E/E' ratio.

Conclusion: Tissue Doppler imaging and color M-mode echocardiographic parameters are independent of the intravascular value status. With no change associated with hemodialysis, these parameters can be used as reliable criteria for evaluating ventricular diastolic function even when the volume status varies.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia is higher in hemodialysis (HD) patients than the general population. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of high-dose folic acid supplementation with and without vitamin B12 on lowering plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in HD patients.

Methods: Thirty-six HD patients at Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran, who had been given folic acid supplements (5 mg/d) for at least 3 months before, were enrolled in this clinical trial. Subjects were also checked for other inclusion and exclusion criteria. The subjects were divided randomly into four groups and underwent two months of supplementation as follows: 5 mg/d oral folic acid + placebo in group one, 5 mg/d oral folic acid + vitamin B12 (1 mg/d orally) in group two, 15 mg/d oral folic acid + placebo in group three and 15 mg/d oral folic acid + vitamin B12 (1 mg/d orally) in group four. Concentrations of plasma tHcy and serum folic acid and vitamin B12 were measured at baseline and after the supplementation period. Dietary intake of patients was also determined during the supplementation period.

Results: Of the folic acid supplemented patients, 27.8% had normal levels of tHcy at baseline and 72.2% had hyperhomocysteinemia. After the supplementation period, plasma tHcy increased by 1.35% in group one and decreased by 6.99%, 14.54% and 30.09% in groups two, three and four respectively. Changes in plasma tHcy and serum vitamin B12 were only significant in group four however, no significant changes were seen for serum folic acid. The percentage of subjects reaching normal levels of plasma tHcy was 5.6 fold higher in group four than in the reference group.

Conclusions: Supplementation with 15 mg/d folic acid together with 1 mg/d oral vitamin B12 is more effective in reducing tHcy levels in HD patients.

Background: The risk of atherosclerosis and cancer is high in hemodialysis (HD) patients. There is evidence that HD causes oxidative stress. However, the causative factors of oxidative stress are unknown. It has been suggested that HD imposes an additional oxidative stress on patients with chronic renal failure by activation of granulocytes on dialyzer membranes resulting in an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. In this regard, a number of reports, either measuring specific analytes or enzymes, or estimating the total antioxidant activity of the plasma have given contradictory and inconclusive results. To investigate the oxidative stress status in Iranian HD patients, in this study, we evaluated GSH and FRAP levels along with Ca and pH in the blood of these patients.

Methods: Along with 20 healthy age and gender matched control subjects, 24 patients underwent dialysis, three times per week, for four hours in each session. Before and after dialysis, blood was taken for biochemical and liver function tests and to evaluate oxidative stress markers and measure Ca and pH levels.

Results: There was a significant decrease in FRAP and GSH levels after dialysis compared to those before treatment. Dialysis caused an increase in pH and Ca levels compared to levels in control subjects after dialysis.

Conclusion: In general, before dialysis, there is a balance between oxidants and antioxidants however, due to higher levels of oxidants as well as the possible binding of antioxidants to the dialyzer membrane during dialysis, an imbalance occurs. The instability in the balance of oxidants and antioxidants may be the major cause of cellular oxidative damage found in HD patients. This study indicates that there is a significant level of oxidative stress in renal chronic patients and this stress is augmented by dialysis. Antioxidant therapy should be considered in these patients.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 !mso]> ject classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui> Background: Chronic peritoneal dialysis is a safe method for the treatment of end-stage renal failure. Worldwide, patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis constititute approximately 15% of the total number of patients on dialysis. In Iran, very few people have access to chronic peritoneal dialysis, which is targeted by the Ministry of Health. This lack of access is primarily due to the high occurrence of mechanical complications. Improving catheterization procedures is an important way to extend the use of peritoneal dialysis in Iran. Thus, a prospective study was implemented to evaluate the outcome of a new laparoscopic technique for the insertion of peritoneal dialysis catheters under local anesthesia.
Methods: A total of 115 catheters (two-cuff, swan-necked, coiled) were inserted into the peritoneal cavity of 109 patients with end-stage chronic renal failure during a 16-month period. The method of insertion was a two-port laparoscopic technique with local anesthesia and sedation. All patients were followed for 12 to 28 months. We prospectively evaluated mechanical and infectious complications and survival rates of the catheters.
Results: The average age of the patients was 51.5 years (range: 15-84 years) 54.8% of these patients were female. The overall one-year and two-year catheter survival rates using this approach were 88% and 73%, respectively. Event-free catheter survival was 35%. The most common infectious and mechanical complications were peritonitis in 52 cases (45.2%) and temporary dialysate leakage in 10 cases (8.7%) respectively.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic insertion of peritoneal dialysis catheter with local anesthesia is a safe and simple procedure, giving reasonable rates of catheter survival and complications.

Background: Anemia is a common complication accompanied by high morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Considering the fact that the reduction of erythropoietin (EPO) synthesis is the main cause of uremic anemia, receiving recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) can improve the condition in these patients. Some of these hemodialysis patients, however, have acceptable hemoglobin levels without any need to EPO. Higher BMI, higher albumin and leptin plasma levels and longer durations of hemodialysis are possible factors contributing to the reduced need for rHuEPO in these patients. The present study is designed to asses the relationship between the plasma levels of leptin and the reduced EPO need.

Methods: Fifty eligible hemodialysis patients with hemoglobin levels higher than 11 mg/dl were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. The information on age, sex, hemodialysis duration and the cause of renal dysfunction were extracted from the files. The baseline plasma levels of Leptin and albumin were measured. The patients BMI and the weekly need for rHuEPO were also calculated.

Results: There was no correlation between the weekly need for rHuEPO and sex, BMI, the cause of renal dysfunction and the plasma levels of albumin and leptin it, however, was related with age and the duration of dialysis. While age negatively influences the weekly need, the duration of dialysis has a positive effect on the need.

Conclusion: The plasma levels of leptin are not directly correlated with the required amounts of rHuEPO, indicating that leptin is not an effective factor in erythropoiesis. Conversely, older age and shorter hemodialysis durations are accompanied by reduced need for rHuEPO.

Background: Prohepcidin, a liver-derived peptide with antimicrobial properties, is regulated by factors such as iron load and inflammation. Hepcidin is a central player in iron homeostasis. It downregulates the iron exporter ferroportin, thereby inhibiting iron absorption, release and recycling. Thus, prohepcidin increases the possibility of iron-limited erythropoiesis and development of anemia. In end-stage renal disease (ESRD), plasma hepcidin levels are elevated, which may contribute to iron deficiency in these patients. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between prohepcidin and serum biochemical parameters related to anemia and inflammation in the aforesaid patients.

Methods: Fifty-four stable patients with uremia who were on chronic hemodialysis were enrolled in the study. The patients were withheld from intravenous iron two weeks prior to laboratory measurements. Later, (total) prohepcidin was measured by ELISA method as were other parameters including serum iron, TIBC, TSAT, Hct, ferritin, albumin, CRP, ESR, cholesterol and triglyceride.

Results: Serum prohepcidin levels were higher than normal values in the patients, but they were not correlated to the serum iron, TIBC, TSAT, Hct, ferritin, albumin, cholesterol and triglyceride (p>0.05). No significant association were also found with ESR (p=0.97, r= -0.005) or CRP (p=0.053, r =0.26).

Conclusion: Serum prohepcidin level was higher in chronic hemodialysis patients but it was not predictive of iron status or inflammatory conditions in these patients. Confirmation of these results may necessitate studies with larger sample sizes or measurement of the biologically active form of hepcidin.

Background: Atherosclerotic vascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal diseases on maintenance hemodialysis. Early atherosclerotic changes of the arterial wall can be evaluated by measuring intima-media thickness (IMT), and looking for the presence and structure of plaques and parameters of vascular resistance. In this study we investigated the relationship between carotid IMT and pulsatility index (PI) or resistive index (RI) values in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: Sixty hemodialysis patients (27 females and 33 males median age 41.7 years) and 60 healthy volunteers (32 females and 28 males, median age 37.8 years) underwent ultrasonography of common carotid artery for the determination of IMT, PI and RI.

Results: Bilateral IMT was significantly higher in hemodialysis patients than in control group (P<0.001). Left carotid artery RI and PI were found to be significantly higher in hemodialysis patients than in the controls (P<0.001). Right carotid artery RI and PI had no significant statistical differences between the two groups (P=0.18 and P=0.78, respectively). There was a moderately significant negative correlation between the left carotid IMT and left RI and PI in the controls (r= -0.42, P=0.001 and r=- 0.43, P<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: PI and RI values of the left coronary artery increased as did IMT in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, measurement of RI and PI values together with IMT are recommended for early diagnosis of atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patient.