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Background and objectives There are inconsistent reports on the association of dietary protein intake with serum albumin and outcomes among patients on hemodialysis. Using a new normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) variable accounting for residual renal urea clearance, we hypothesized that higher baseline nPCR and rise in nPCR would be associated with higher serum albumin and better survival among incident hemodialysis patients. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Among 36,757 incident hemodialysis patients in a large United States dialysis organization, we examined baseline and change in renal urea clearance–corrected nPCR as a protein intake surrogate and modeled their associations with serum albumin and mortality over 5 years (1/2007–12/2011). Results Median nPCRs with and without accounting for renal urea clearance at baseline were 0.94 and 0.78 g/kg per day, respectively (median within-patient difference, 0.14 [interquartile range, 0.07–0.23] g/kg per day). During a median follow-up period of 1.4 years, 8481 deaths were observed. Baseline renal urea clearance–corrected nPCR was associated with higher serum albumin and lower mortality in the fully adjusted model (Ptrend Conclusions Among incident hemodialysis patients, higher dietary protein intake represented by nPCR and its changes over time appear to be associated with increased serum albumin levels and greater survival. nPCR may be underestimated when not accounting for renal urea clearance. Compared with the conventional nPCR, renal urea clearance–corrected nPCR may be a better marker of mortality.

Introduction Hypoalbuminemia is a predictor of poor outcomes in dialysis patients. Among hemodialysis patients, there has not been prior study of whether residual kidney function or decline over time impacts serum albumin levels. We hypothesized that a decline in residual kidney function is associated with an increase in serum albumin levels among incident hemodialysis patients. Methods In a large national cohort of 38,504 patients who initiated hemodialysis during 1/2007-12/2011, we examined the association of residual kidney function, ascertained by urine volume and renal urea clearance, with changes in serum albumin over five years across strata of baseline residual kidney function, race, and diabetes using case-mix adjusted linear mixed effects models. Findings Serum albumin levels increased over time. At baseline, patients with greater urine volume had higher serum albumin levels: 3.44 ± 0.48, 3.50 ± 0.46, 3.57 ± 0.44, 3.59 ± 0.45, and 3.65 ± 0.46 g/dL for urine volume groups of

Background: It is not clear whether peritoneal dialysis (PD) and home hemodialysis (HHD) have similar outcomes, and little is known about how mortality associated with HHD versus PD differs according to the duration of dialysis. Methods: We examined a national cohort of incident end-stage renal disease patients that was comprised of 1,993 and 16,514 patients transitioning to HHD and PD, respectively, from 2007 to 2011. The HHD patients were matched with PD patients using propensity score (PS). Demographics, comorbidities, duration of dialysis, and body mass index were adjusted for in logistic regression models using PS matching. We matched 1,915 HHD patients with 1,915 PD patients based on the PS. The patients were categorized by their vintage (duration of dialysis) at the time of the transition to HHD or PD (Results: In the matched cohort, 237 and 359 deaths occurred in the HHD and PD patients, respectively (cumulative incidence 9.6 vs. 12.9/100 patient-years, p < 0.001). PD patients who transitioned within 12 months of starting dialysis had similar mortality risks, while PD patients who transitioned >12 months after starting dialysis had an 83% higher risk for mortality (hazard ratio 1.83; 95% CI 1.33–2.52). Conclusions: Whereas there was no meaningful survival difference in the first 12 months between HHD and PD, patients who transitioned to PD after 12 months of dialysis had worse survival than their HHD counterparts. Additional studies are warranted to investigate clinical implications of these differences.

Background: Abnormalities in serum potassium are risk factors for sudden cardiac death and arrhythmias among dialysis patients. Although a previous study in hemodialysis patients has shown that race/ethnicity may impact the relationship between serum potassium and mortality, the relationship remains unclear among peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients where the dynamics of serum potassium is more stable. Methods: Among 17,664 patients who started PD between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2011 in a large US dialysis organization, we evaluated the association of serum potassium levels with all-cause and arrhythmia-related deaths across race/ethnicity using time-dependent Cox models with adjustments for demographics. We also used restricted cubic spline functions for serum potassium levels to explore non-linear associations. Results: Baseline serum potassium levels were the highest among Hispanics (4.2 ± 0.7 mEq/L) and lowest among non-Hispanic blacks (4.0 ± 0.7 mEq/L). Among 2,949 deaths during the follow-up of median 2.2 (interquartile ranges 1.3–3.2) years, 683 (23%) were arrhythmia-related deaths. Overall, both hyperkalemia and hypokalemia (i.e., serum potassium levels >5.0 and Conclusion: Among incident PD patients, hypokalemia was consistently associated with all-cause and arrhythmia-related deaths irrespective of race/ethnicity. However, while hyperkalemia was associated with both death outcomes in non-Hispanic blacks and whites, it was not associated with either death outcome in Hispanic patients. Further studies are needed to demonstrate whether different strategies should be followed for the management of serum potassium levels according to race/ethnicity.

The long-term effect of cinacalcet hydrochloride treatment on parathyroid gland (PTG) volume has been scarcely investigated in patients with moderate to advanced secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). The present study was a prospective observational study to determine the effect of cinacalcet treatment on PTG volume and serum biochemical parameters in 60 patients with renal SHPT, already treated with intravenous vitamin D receptor activator (VDRA). Measurement of biochemical parameters and PTG volumes were performed periodically, which were analyzed by stratification into tertiles across the baseline parathyroid hormone (PTH) level or PTG volume. We also determined the factors that can estimate the changes in PTG volume and the achievement of the target PTH range by multivariable analyses. Two years of cinacalcet treatment significantly decreased the serum levels of PTH, calcium, and phosphate, followed by the improvement of achieving the target ranges for these parameters recommended by the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy. Cinacalcet decreased the maximal and total PTG volume by about 30%, and also decreased the serum PTH level independent of the baseline serum PTH level and PTG volume. Ten out of 60 patients showed 30% increase in maximal PTG after 2 years. Multivariable analysis showed that patients with nodular PTG at baseline and patients with higher serum calcium and PTH levels at 1 year were likely to exceed the target range of PTH at two years. In conclusion, cinacalcet treatment with intravenous VDRA therapy decreased both PTG volume and serum intact PTH level, irrespective of the pretreatment PTG status and past treatment history.

Previous epidemiological evidence has suggested that responsiveness to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) is related to prognosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We investigated the effects of hyporesponsiveness to ESA on mortality and cardiovascular events in Japanese HD patients, taking modifying factors into account.A total of 2,905 Japanese HD patients aged ≥18 years who received ESA treatment were prospectively followed up for 4 years. Responsiveness to ESA was estimated using an erythropoietin resistance index (ERI), defined as erythropoietin dosage per week divided by post-HD weight and hemoglobin value (U/kg/week/g/dl). Patients were divided into three groups by tertiles of ERI levels: low ERI, ≤5.10; intermediate ERI, 5.11-9.43; high ERI, ≥9.44. Risk estimates were calculated by a Cox proportional hazards model, adjusting for potential confounders.During follow-up, 482 patients died from any causes. The 4-year survival rate decreased linearly with higher ERI levels, being 87.5, 82.9, and 72.0% for low, intermediate, and high ERI group (p for trend0.001). Compared with the low ERI group, the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (mHR) was significantly higher in the high ERI group [mHR, 1.64 (95% confidence interval, 1.27-2.11)]. In the high ERI group, patients with Kt/V ≥ 1.57 had a significantly lower risk of death from any causes compared with those with Kt/V ≤ 1.56 [mHR, 0.73 (0.54-0.98)].Our findings suggest that ESA responsiveness can be considered a significant prognostic factor in Japanese HD patients.

Hypoalbuminemia is a predictor of poor outcomes in dialysis patients. Among hemodialysis patients, there has not been prior study of whether residual kidney function or decline over time impacts serum albumin levels. We hypothesized that a decline in residual kidney function is associated with an increase in serum albumin levels among incident hemodialysis patients.In a large national cohort of 38,504 patients who initiated hemodialysis during 1/2007-12/2011, we examined the association of residual kidney function, ascertained by urine volume and renal urea clearance, with changes in serum albumin over five years across strata of baseline residual kidney function, race, and diabetes using case-mix adjusted linear mixed effects models.Serum albumin levels increased over time. At baseline, patients with greater urine volume had higher serum albumin levels: 3.44 ± 0.48, 3.50 ± 0.46, 3.57 ± 0.44, 3.59 ± 0.45, and 3.65 ± 0.46 g/dL for urine volume groups of300, 300-600, 600-900, 900-1,200, and ≥1,200 mL/day, respectively (PHypoalbuminemia in hemodialysis patients is associated with lower residual kidney function. Among incident hemodialysis patients, there is a gradual rise in serum albumin that is independent of the rate of decline in residual kidney function, suggesting that preservation of residual kidney function does not have a deleterious impact on serum albumin levels.

Objectives Among kidney disease patients ≥80 years progressing to end-stage renal disease, there is growing interest in conservative nondialytic management approaches. However, among those who have initiated hemodialysis, little is known about the impact of withdrawal from dialysis on mortality, nor the patient characteristics associated with withdrawal from dialysis. Study design Historical cohort study. Setting and participants We examined 133,162 incident hemodialysis patients receiving care within a large national dialysis organization from 2007 to 2011. Measures We identified patients who withdrew from dialysis, either as a listed cause of death or censor reason. Incidence rates and subdistribution hazard ratios for withdrawal from dialysis as well as 4 other censoring reasons were examined across age groups. In addition, demographic and clinical characteristics associated with withdrawal from dialysis therapy among patients ≥80 years old was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results Among 17,296 patients aged ≥80 years, 10% of patients withdrew from dialysis. Duration from the last hemodialysis treatment to death was 10 [interquartile range 6-16] days in patients with available data. Withdrawal from dialysis was the second and third most common cause of death among patients aged ≥80 years and Conclusion/Implications Among very-elderly incident hemodialysis patients, dialysis therapy withdrawal exhibits wide variations across age, race and ethnicity, regions, cognitive status, dialysis vascular access, and nutritional status. Further studies examining implications of withdrawal from dialysis in older patients are warranted

The long-term effect of cinacalcet hydrochloride treatment on parathyroid gland (PTG) volume has been scarcely investigated in patients with moderate to advanced secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). The present study was a prospective observational study to determine the effect of cinacalcet treatment on PTG volume and serum biochemical parameters in 60 patients with renal SHPT, already treated with intravenous vitamin D receptor activator (VDRA). Measurement of biochemical parameters and PTG volumes were performed periodically, which were analyzed by stratification into tertiles across the baseline parathyroid hormone (PTH) level or PTG volume. We also determined the factors that can estimate the changes in PTG volume and the achievement of the target PTH range by multivariable analyses. Two years of cinacalcet treatment significantly decreased the serum levels of PTH, calcium, and phosphate, followed by the improvement of achieving the target ranges for these parameters recommended by the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy. Cinacalcet decreased the maximal and total PTG volume by about 30%, and also decreased the serum PTH level independent of the baseline serum PTH level and PTG volume. Ten out of 60 patients showed 30% increase in maximal PTG after 2 years. Multivariable analysis showed that patients with nodular PTG at baseline and patients with higher serum calcium and PTH levels at 1 year were likely to exceed the target range of PTH at two years. In conclusion, cinacalcet treatment with intravenous VDRA therapy decreased both PTG volume and serum intact PTH level, irrespective of the pretreatment PTG status and past treatment history.

健康食品やサプリメントと呼ばれる商品は多くのマスメディアで紹介され誰もが身近に購入できるものになっている. しかし, 腎不全患者の安易な利用は危険をもたらす場合もある. そこで, 健康食品等に対する意識調査および利用状況を把握するため, 当院外来慢性維持血液透析患者に対しアンケート調査を実施した. 対象患者は, 平成13年108名, 平成15年116名であった.健康食品に対して興味がある患者は平成13年が38.9%, 平成15年は44.8%, 健康食品を以前利用または調査時利用中の患者は, 平成13年が24.1%, 平成15年42.2%といずれも2年間で増加していた. しかし, 健康食品の利用が増える中, 利用に際し栄養士に相談があった患者は平成13年が10.2%, 平成15年は4.3%と相談患者数の減少がみられた. 新たに平成15年ではサプリメントに対して同様に調査を行ったところ, 現在利用中または以前利用を合わせると22.5%存在し, 相談した患者は19.2%であった. また, 健康食品を分類すると, 薬であると回答した患者は13.8%, 食品62.9%, 同じくサプリメントでは, 薬37.1%, 食品31.9%であった.2年前より利用中止した患者に比べ新たに利用を始めた患者が若干多く, 継続利用患者は利用商品が変更している患者も存在し, 日々の情報に大きく影響を受けているようである. 健康食品は食品であると認識している患者がほとんどであったが, サプリメントに関しては, 薬・食品のどちらとも言えないようであった. 利用に際し相談しない患者は, 血液検査成績や体重増加により栄養士が利用状況を知ることが多いが, アンケート調査により利用を知る患者も多いことから, データに反映しない患者が存在することも考慮する必要がある. 栄養士は日常の情報にも目を配り, 透析患者にとって安全に利用できるよう注意すべきである.

Kienböck's disease is a rare disorder that presents with wrist pain and limitation of motion and is caused by avascular necrosis of the lunate bone. Dialysis patients occasionally present with wrist pain. However, Kienböck's disease is rarely reported in dialysis patients. We report a case of 52-year-old woman with a 28-year history of hemodialysis who presented with acute wrist pain. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse low intensity of the lunate bone, consistent with the diagnosis of Kienböck's disease. Because this disease can lead to chronic debilitating wrist pain, prompt diagnosis, accurate staging, and provision of appropriate treatment is mandatory.

The risk of cardiovascular disease is substantially high in hemodialysis patients. The risk factors for cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients include age, malnutrition, duration of dialysis, diabetes mellitus and hyperphosphatemia. However, it is not clear whether cardiovascular disease is associated with abdominal obesity in dialysis patients. The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationship among visceral fat area and cardiovascular complications in chronic dialysis patients. Area of visceral fat was measured using computed tomography scan in 94 patients. The abdominal aortic calcification index (ACI), blood lipid profile and complication of cardiovascular disease were evaluated in these patients. Compared to patients with smaller visceral fat area (100 cm2), those with larger visceral fat area (≥100 cm2) showed significantly higher cardiovascular complication and higher serum levels of triglyceride and significantly lower serum levels of HDL-cholesterol. Patients with larger visceral fat area and longer duration of dialysis showed severer calcification by ACI analysis, and showed higher incidences of ischemic heart disease. This study suggested that chronic dialysis patients with higher visceral fat area have a higher risk for vascular events, especially ischemic heart disease.

The treatment according to the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy guidelines was performed in 189 patients on maintenance dialysis in our clinic. The mean age of the patients was 64.9 years and the mean dialysis period was 6.3 years. The underlying disease was diabetic nephropathy in 40.7% of the patients, chronic glomerulonephritis in 30.2%, and nephrosclerosis in 13.8%. In May 2006 before the use of JSDT guidelines, patients with phosphorus and calcium concentrations in the control goal range were most frequently observed (69.8%), followed in order by those with a high concentration of phosphorus alone (13.8%), those with a low concentration of phosphorus alone (2.6%), those with a high concentration of calcium alone (10.1%), those with high concentration of both phosphorus and calcium (3.7%). Treatment according to JSDT guidelines was performed for 6 months in these patients. In January 2007, the group with both phosphorus and calcium concentrations in the goal range accounted for 82.2%, showing improvement. The intact PTH concentration in patients with normal phosphorus and calcium concentration was in the reference range (60-180 pg/ml) in about 50% of the patients, high (180 pg/ml) in 35%, low (60 pg/ml) in 10% during the study periods. The intact PTH concentration was often about 40 pg/ml in patients with a concentration60 pg/ml, 120 pg/ml in those with a concentration of 60-180 pg/ml, and 200-250 pg/ml in those with a concentration180 pg/ml. The concentration of NTx was significantly higher in the patients with an intact PTH concentration180 pg/ml than in those with a concentration of60 pg/ml or those with a concentration of 60-180 pg/ml and significantly increased with time.

In many hemodialysis patients at our hospital on May 2003, serum calcium levels were higher and intact PTH levels were lower than the target level of the K/DOQI guidelines. We could decrease doses of calcium-based phosphate binders by using sevelamer hydrochloride, and that could lower the level of calcium and raise the level of intact PTH. The number of patients who satisfy all the targets for calcium, phosphate, Ca x P and int-PTH, increased from 1.7% to 14.7% as a result of diet therapy and a change in their dose of medicine. It is natural that diet greatly influences on the control of calcium and phosphate, but if the period of hemodialysis is longer or there is swelling of the parathyroid, both diet therapy and medical therapy become more important for hemodialysis patients.