Comparison of biochemical, haematological and volume parameters in two treatment schedules of nocturnal home haemodialysis

SUMMARY: Background: The biochemical, haemodynamic, clinical and nutritional benefits of nocturnal home haemodialysis (NHHD) compared with 4 h, three times per week conventional haemodialysis are well known and accrue by increasing dialysis time and frequency either for 8 h alternate night per week (NHHD 3.5 ) or for 8 h six nights per week (NHHD 6 ). However, there are little data comparing NHHD 3.5 with NHHD 6 . Method and Results: Thirteen patients on NHHD 6 were compared with 21 patients on NHHD 3.5 , all with similar demographic profiles. Pre- and post-dialysis phosphate (PO 4 ) control was ideal between the groups. However, all NHHD 6 needed PO 4 supplementation compared with 4/21 (19%) NHHD 3.5 . In the present study, 8/21 (38%) NHHD 3.5 needed PO 4 binders whereas none was required with NHHD 6 . The pre-haemoglobin (Hb) 122.8 g/L (NHHD 6 ) versus 124.9 g/L (NHHD 3.5 ) and the pre-albumin 38.31 g/L (NHHD 6 ) versus 37.71 g/L (NHHD 3.5 ) were not significantly different. NHHD 6 had significantly lower pre-blood urea and creatinine (10.16 vs 19.54 mmol/L and 437.0 vs 812.3 µ mol/L, respectively). Less interdialytic urea and creatinine fluctuation were also noted in NHHD 6 . Of major significance was the significantly lower ultra filtration rate and intradialytic weight gains (mean ± SEM) of NHHD 6 (249 ± 76 mL/h and 2.0 ± 0.65 kg) versus NHHD 3.5 (425 ± 168 mL/h and 2.9 ± 1.2 kg). Conclusion: The authors conclude that NHHD 6 offers the optimum biochemical, volume and clinical outcome, but NHHD 3.5 has additional appeal to providers seeking home-based therapy cost advantages and consumable expenditure control. A flexible dialysis programme should offer all the time and frequency options of NHHD but in particular, should support NHHD at a frequency sympathetic to the clinical rehabilitation and lifestyle aspirations of individual patients.