Objective To evaluate the impact of pre-dialysis glycemic control on clinical outcomes for type II diabetic patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPO). Materials and Methods One hundred and one type II diabetic patients receiving CAPO for at least 3 months were enrolled in a single institute. The patients were classified into two groups according to status of glycemic control. In the good glycemic control group, more than 50% of blood glucose determinations were within 3.3 11.0 mmol/L and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1 C) levels were within 5% -10% at all times. In the poor glycemic control group, less than 50% of blood glucose determinations were within 3.3 -11.0 mmol/L, or HbA1C levels were above 10% at least 6 months before peritoneal dialysis was started. In addition to glycemic control status, pre-dialysis serum albumin, cholesterol levels, residual renal function, peritoneal membrane function, and modes of glycemic control were also recorded. Results The patients with good glycemic control had significantly better survival than those with poor glycemic control (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in pre-dialysis morbidity between two groups. No significant differences were observed in patient survival between patients with serum albumin above 30 g/L and those with serum albumin under 30 g/L; between those with cholesterol levels above or below 5.2 mmol/L; and between those with different peritoneal membrane solute transport characteristics as evaluated by a peritoneal equilibration test (PET). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in survival between patients who controlled blood sugar by diet and those who controlled it by insulin. Cardiovascular disease and infection are the major causes of death in both groups. Although good glycemic control predicts better survival, it does not change the pattern of mortality in diabetic patients maintained on CAPO. Conclusions Glycemic control before starting dialysis is a predictor of survival for type II diabetic patients on CAPO. Patients with poor glycemic control predialysis are associated with increased morbidity and shortened survival.
<i>Background:</i> Recent investigation has shown that on-line hemodiafiltration (HDF) can reduce the amount of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) deemed necessary to reach the target hematocrit. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential effect of on-line HDF on rhEPO resistance in relation to iron utilization and anemia-related parameters, when compared to conventional hemodialysis (HD). <i>Methods:</i> Ninety-two chronic uremic patients were treated with conventional HD and then shifted to on-line HDF. Measurements of various erythropoiesis-related parameters were collected during HD and on-line HDF periods for statistical analysis for erythropoietin resistance. <i>Results:</i> Patients treated with on-line HDF switching from conventional HD significantly contributed to the reduction of EPO dose to reach a higher mean hematocrit level (31.8 ± 4.4% vs. 29.5 ± 3.9%, p < 0.001) and a reduction of the serum ferritin level (322.5 ± 268.4 vs. 544.9 ± 642.4, p < 0.001). The median EPO/Hct ratio was greater in the HD period (504.6 ± 310.1) than in the on-line HDF period (307.6 ± 334.4) (p < 0.001). These results indicated a reduced EPO resistance and improved iron utilization by on-line HDF. By multiple regression analysis, the significant predictors of EPO resistance are ferritin, transferrin, albumin, and TACurea (Time average concentration of urea) in HD treatment. In on-line HDF modality, in addition to ferritin and albumin, the duration of on-line HDF is a negative predictor in EPO resistance. <i>Conclusion:</i> When on-line HDF is recommended to chronic dialysis patients, long-term use of this technique provides an efficient means of achieving the goal of an elevated hemoglobulin by reducing EPO resistance, improved iron utilization and may further improve the quality of life.
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased risk for malignancy and end-stage renal disease itself might further augment the risk. Treating uremic patients with cervical cancer by cisplatin-based chemotherapy combined with radiation is hampered by the reduced renal excretion of cisplatin. Doxorubicin, a potential radiosensitizer with an established effect on carcinomas that arise in the ovary, uterine cervix and endometrium, might be applied in these cases. We describe a 36-year-old woman, who had a 9-year history of SLE and was maintained on dialysis, and who developed severe drug reaction manifesting as fever, skin rash and exfoliative dermatitis with positive lupus band test after infusion of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin therapy for advanced cervical cancer. These skin manifestations improved after i.v. methylprednisolone pulse therapy.
To compare four different ways of implanting catheters for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in an effort to reduce the incidence of complications.Retrospective study.Teaching hospital, Taiwan.166 Patients who had 180 catheters inserted between 1985 and 1993.49 Catheters were inserted through midline incisions (in 24 of which the catheter was fixed with an additional suture) and 131 were inserted through paramedian incisions (in 88 of which the catheter was fixed with an additional suture).Morbidity, particularly the incidence of migration of the catheter and incisional hernia.8/68 Catheters migrated in patients in whom no additional fixing suture had been used, compared with 2/112 in whom an additional suture had been used (p = 0.007). There were 4 incisional hernias in 49 midline, compared with 0/131 paramedian, incisions (p < 0.0001). Significantly more catheters had to be removed after midline than after paramedian incisions (35/49 compared with 56/131, p = 0.0008); chi square for independence 15.02, df 3, p = 0.0018.For the implantation of catheters for CAPD the paramedian incision is associated with significantly fewer complications than the midline incision and the incidence is even lower if the catheter is fixed to the lower peritoneum with an additional suture.
Numerous studies have identified a strong linkage between the delivered dialysis dose (Kt/V) and the survival of hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, the current method used to calculate Kt/V requires multiple blood samples and the process is complex and time consuming. We evaluate the performance of a recently developed on-line monitor (Biostat 1000 dialysate urea monitor, Baxter) that measures the urea concentration in the effluent dialysate and displays Kt/V and nPCR immediately after hemodialysis. To verify the performance of the urea monitor, we selected 21 hemodialysis patients, calculated their Kt/V and nPCR values from blood samples obtained during each hemodialysis, and compared the results with data obtained using the urea monitor.The Kt/V and nPCR values calculated by the urea monitor were both significantly correlated with those obtained using blood samples (R = 0.804, p < 0.001 in Kt/V and R = 0.749, p < 0.001 in nPCR).Our results suggest that the urea monitor may be used for on-line assessment of dialysis adequacy and obviates the need for blood sampling.
Despite the common anomaly of a duplicated collecting system in the urinary tract, urothelial cancer in a duplicated collecting system is a rare occurrence. Herein, we present 2 cases of renal pelvis tumor and 1 case of a ureter tumor which coexisted with a duplicated collecting system. One of the renal pelvis tumors developed bilateral transitional cell carcinoma within the bilateral duplicated pelvis. This has not been reported previously. The tumor of the ureter in the latter case was located at the junction site of the bifurcation. This finding is consistent with the postulation that urine reflux chronically irritates the distal segment of a duplicated ureter, rendering this segment susceptible to malignant change. Recurrence of the tumor is frequently observed, which necessitates an early diagnosis and radical treatment.
<i>Background/Aims:</i> Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is a well-known risk factor of long-term survival in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Serum albumin is a measure of visceral protein, lean body mass is a measure of somatic protein stores and normalized protein nitrogen appearance is a measure of daily protein intake. A protein nutrition index (PNI) that combined these 3 factors was designed and tested as a function of survival in PD patients. <i>Methods:</i> We enrolled 552 PD patients for this study. Demographic, biochemical, nutritional markers, comorbidity and dialysis-related data were obtained. The PNI was calculated. All patients were followed up to investigate the risks for mortality. <i>Results:</i> Patients with probable PEW/low-average nutrition were older and had lower serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen, lower adequacy data and higher D4/P4 Cr compared with patients with high-average/good nutrition. 108 patients (19.6%) died during the observational period. By multivariate analysis, we found only age, comorbidity index and PNI (relative risk = 0.84, confidence interval: 0.76–0.93, p = 0.001) to be independent predictors of mortality. <i>Conclusion:</i> The PNI at the start of PD is associated with all-cause mortality, and each increase by a score of 1 in PNI leads to a 16% decrease in the risk of mortality. Predialysis evaluation of this scoring system is recommended for further research in order to improve outcomes in PD patients.