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Background: The target for serum parathyroid (PTH) hormone level in dialysis patients is higher than that in the normal population in order to prevent adynamic bone disease (ABD) that is associated with more frequent cardiovascular and bone disease. Based on biological and clinical data, we aimed at identifying the different types of low PTH (L-PTH) in order to determine the best therapeutic strategies in these patients., Methods: Between 2004 and 2010, all haemodialysis (HD) patients were assessed. Patients with serum L-PTH (<130pg/mL) were classified into five groups as follows : 'PTX' for patients with a history of parathyroidectomy (PTX); 'HypoMed' for patients with a tendency to hypocalcemia without PTX; 'IatroMed' for patients who had undergone excessive PTH-lowering treatments (calcium, vitamin D, or cinacalcet); 'EndoG' for patients with endogenous hypercalcaemia (immobilization, cancer, or granulomatosis); and 'SponT' for patients with L-PTH without evident causes and with 'normal' biology in most cases., Results: From 520 charts, 163 (31.3 %) L-PTH cases were recorded, with 17.7% of PTX in younger patients with longer dialysis times; 2.4% of HypoMed in older women with high co-morbidities (these two groups needed calcium and vitamin D therapy to prevent hypocalcaemia); 22.6% of IatroMed in diabetic patients receiving excessive PTH-lowering treatments; 3% of EndoG in hypercalcaemic patients, more frequently in the hospitalization ward; and 54% of SponT, more frequently comprising old diabetic patients not receiving PTH-lowering treatment and without biological signs of ABD. Treatment changes were necessary only in cases of IatroMed and EndoG, requiring a lowered prescription of PTH-lowering therapies and the addition of bisphosphonates for EndoG., Conclusion: In our HD population, we could identify five types of L-PTH based on medical conditions and biological data. Only two types, i.e. approximately 25% of patients needed therapeutic modifications. For the other patients, L-PTH could be maintained without decreasing the calcium and vitamin D intake that can lead to osteomalacia or administering recombinant PTH 1-34 or calcium-receptor inhibitors that need to be assessed in HD patients., (Copyright © 2012 Association Société de néphrologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Fluid overload and hypertension are among the most important risk factors for haemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of fluid overload for the survival of HD patients by using a selected reference population from Tassin., Methods: A positively selected HD population (n = 50) from Tassin (Lyon-France) was used as a reference for fluid status and all-cause mortality. This population was compared to one dialysis centre from Giessen (Germany) which was separated into a non-hyperhydrated (n = 123) and a hyperhydrated (n = 35) patient group. The hydration status (ΔHS) of all patients was objectively measured with whole-body bioimpedance spectroscopy in 2003. All-cause mortality was analysed after a 6.5-year follow-up., Results: Most of the reference patients from Tassin were normohydrated (ΔHS = 0.25 ± 1.15 L) at the start of the HD session. The hydration status of the Tassin patients was not different to the non-hyperhydrated Giessen patients (ΔHS = 0.8 ± 1.1 L) but significantly lower than in the hyperhydrated Giessen group (ΔHS = 3.5 ± 1.2 L). Multivariate adjusted all-cause mortality was significantly increased in the hyperhydrated patient group (hazard ratio = 3.41)- no difference in mortality could be observed between the Tassin and the non-hyperhydrated group from Giessen-even considering the fact that Tassin patients presented a significantly lower blood pressure., Conclusions: Fluid overload has a very high predictive value for all-cause mortality and seems to be one of the major killers in the HD population. Patients might strongly benefit from active management of fluid overload.

The symptoms of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) were substantially changed by the availability of cinacalcet (CC). The recent ADVANCE study, which was a prospective randomized trial comparing two treatment strategies-CC plus low doses of calcitriol analogues (CA) versus higher doses of CA without CC-reports the absence of difference in the primary endpoint, i.e. coronary artery calcification score progression after 12 months. The progression of coronary calcification was related to the initial hypercalcemia and hyperphosphataemia, and low serum PTH level. What was the rationale for defining SHPT with only serum PTH value of more than 300 pg/mL or more than 150 pg/mL associated with a high Ca×P product? Why was this coronary score chosen as the primary endpoint and why was a seemingly short observational period used? Is it correct to consider all forms of SHPT equivalent in terms of set point, response to conventional treatment, or vascular and bone consequences? Why are the biological values of patients not provided? Were the CAs, dialysate calcium, and PTH assay values really equal? Why were only calcium-based phosphate binders used? The main controversial point of the study was to consider all HPT cases as equivalent and able to be treated by one fixed strategy. Therefore, the nephrologist community should conduct relevant independent studies in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of SHPT., (Copyright © 2011 Association Société de néphrologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

The diagnosis and treatment of hyperparathyroidism (HPT) are not yet well standardized in chronic renal failure patients. The aim of this study was to identify the main types of HPT on the basis of clinical and biological findings in a haemodialysis population. Between 2004 and 2010, all patients undergoing haemodialysis were observed and treated using the same strategy: conventional therapy with vitamin D supplements, phosphate binders, dialysate calcium adjusted to serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level and calcitriol analogues (CA), along with regular bone marker analysis. Wherever required, cinacalcet (CC) was administered and parathyroidectomy (PTX) was performed. Of the 520 patients, 158 were classified as having HPT (30%) with a serum PTH level greater than 300 pg/mL. From this population, we identified five main types of HPT: (1) HPT with 'no bone impact' had normal or low bone marker levels (n=28, 17.7%); (2) 'secondary' HPT had elevated bone marker levels, but showed favorable response to CT (n=59, 37.7%); (3) 'tertiary' HPT was accompanied with hypercalcemia and required CC or PTX in case of CT failure (n=11, 6.9%); (4) 'mixed' HPT could not be completely treated with CT and required CC or PTX (n=57, 36%); (5) 'resistant' HPT did not show hypercalcemia, but required PTX after CT and CC failure (n=3, 1.8%). CC was prescribed in 51% cases, CA in 76%, and PTX in 7% of cases. We typified HPT on the basis of physiopathology and stages of HPT progression. Further studies on HPT that focus on bone marker levels are required to establish well-defined treatment strategies. In our study, HPT cases did not show uniform findings in Hémodialyse (HD) patients because of the variation in the stages of the disease at the time of diagnosis., (Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier SAS.)

Calciphylaxis (CPX) or calcific uraemic arteriolopathy is a rare life-threatening complication, affecting mainly dialysis patients. The condition is characterized by calcifications and thrombosis of the small cutaneous vessels and small vessels in the fat tissue, resulting in the development of necrotizing and non-healing ulcers. The development of these lesions leads to poor outcomes owing to infectious complications and some frequently associated unfavourable medical conditions: obesity, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease. We report the case of six patients with different clinical forms of CPX in the past 10 years with favourable outcomes observed in five of the six patients. The diagnosis was based on clinical presentation: bilateral and hyperalgesic necrotic lesions along with a history of mineral metabolism disorder or warfarin use. The therapeutic strategy included the following: daily dialysis, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, treatment of limb artery stenosis, maintenance of the optimal haemodynamic stability, delivery of cutaneous care, administration of analgesics and antibiotics, warfarin and calcium cessation, and additional therapy with cinacalcet or parathyroidectomy and therapy with bisphosphonates or sodium thiosulphate. Healing was observed in five out of six CPX patients by using this strategy that should be rapidly employed in order to decrease the necrotizing areas that result in poor outcomes. Prevention includes identification of at-risk patients in order to optimize the treatment of the identified risk factors for CPX., (Copyright © 2010 Association Société de néphrologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in dialysis patients has changed with the introduction of cinacalcet (CC), which represents a medical alternative to surgical parathyroidectomy (PTX). The aim of our study is to prospectively assess the tolerance and efficacy of CC in patients, treated in one centre using long haemodialysis, with SHPT who do not respond to conventional therapy., Patients and Methods: We prospectively observed all patients treated with CC between September 2004 and 2009. The characteristics of the patients were compared with that recorded for the patients non treated with CC. Biological factors and the efficacy of the treatment in the patients were compared before (T-0) and after (T-End) CC therapy. The haemodialysis (HD) schedule was 3 x 5 to 3 x 8 h per week. The biological criteria for CC prescription were a serum PTH level greater than 300 pg/ml, calcium level greater than 2.45 mmol/l and bone alkaline phosphatase level greater than 20 microg/l or, in cases of tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THPT), a calcium level greater than 2.55 mmol/l., Results: Eighty-one (14.7%) among the 550 HD patients were treated with CC. As compared to the untreated population, these patients were younger and had higher body mass index (BMI) and higher protein-catabolic rate (nPCR). The treatment failed in 6.1% of the treated patients; 12.3% had severe gastrointestinal side effects and 10% underwent PTX. The treatment was successful in 81.4% patients who were prescribed a mean final CC dosage of 51+/-30 mg/day. Between T-0 and T-End (18+/-15) months), the serum PTH levels decreased by 77%, calcaemia levels decreased by 10% and phosphataemia levels decreased by 14%. Therefore, the percentage of patients with normal biological parameters increased significantly : serum PTH (150-300 pg/ml: 0 to 50%), calcaemia (2.1-2.37 mmol/l: 6 to 77%) and phosphataemia (1.15-1.78 mol/l: 58 to 84%). After 12 months, eight patients (10%) successfully weaned from CC therapy. No episodes of hypocalcaemia (<2.0 mmol/l) occurred. Treatments with alfacalcidol (68 to 40%) and sevelamer (72 to 50%) decreased, treatments with CaCO(3) remained stable (20%), those with native vitamin D increased (55 to 95%)., Conclusion: The treatment of HD patients having SHPT and THPT with CC and vitamin D derivatives was efficacious and well tolerated in a majority of cases after the failure of conventional therapies. These treatments improved mineral metabolism significantly., (Copyright 2010 Association Société de néphrologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Catheter-related adverse events (CAE) remain a major cause of mortality and morbidity., Aim: We aimed to compare the CAE prevalence and adverse events rate at 10 years interval in one centre using different devices, dressing procedures., Methods: We compared two periods, from 1994 to 1997 (period 1) and from 2004 to 2007 (period 2). We recorded all prevalent tunnelled CAE and their related adverse event rate: catheter-related bacteraemia (CRB), catheter local infection (CLI), catheter dysfunction leading to CAE exchange, thrombolytic use and spontaneous pulling up., Results: In period 1, PermCath catheter (Quinton, N=63) and TwinCath catheter (MedComp, N=76) were used in 95 HD. BioFlex catheter (N=52) and ASPC split catheter (MedComp, N=52) were used in 72 HD in period 2. In period 1, we performed catheter dressing using povidone iodine versus alcoholic chlorexidine in period 2. Between period 1 and period 2, the CAE prevalence decreased from 15-18% to 9-6%, CRB from 1.1 to 0.23/1000 day-catheter (p<0.001), CLI from 1.1 to 0.28/1000 day-catheter (p<0.001), definitive dysfunction from 12 to 1.2% (p<0.001) and CAE pulling up from 4 to 0%. The annual urokinase consumption decreased from three to one unit per CAE., Conclusion: This study shows the dramatic decrease in CAE prevalence (-50%) and related-adverse events (approximately -200%) since 10 years. Switching povidone iodine to chlorexidine and using more recent catheter devices appear very efficient in decreasing catheter-related adverse events.

Malnutrition is frequent in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The HEMO study has shown a progressive decline of nutritional markers, such as body weight, albuminemia and protein intake, in prevalent hemodialysis patients during a 3-year follow-up. In incident dialysis patients, nutritional status usually improves during the first year of HD treatment. Opposite to the HEMO findings, we have shown that nutritional stability was achieved during a 5 year follow-up with sequential long hour dialysis (3 x 6-8 hours/week). Energy and protein intakes are related to the dialysis dose. Moreover, several studies show the nutritional consequences of changing the dialysis prescriptions. The switch from conventional HD to short daily dialysis improves significantly protein and energy intake and albuminemia. Also, increasing treatment time increases significantly the body weight after several months. One of the hypothesis for this effect is that uremia-related middle molecules compromise the patient appetite. Increasing dialysis time or frequency may decrease the level or the time of exposition to these molecules. However, the beneficial effect of hemodiafiltration on HD patients' nutritional status is not spectacular. Another hypothesis is the role of extra-cellular fluid excess and its relationship with inflammation that is deleterious for nutrition. In conclusion, dialysis adequacy is a mandatory prerequisite when facing a malnourished HD patient. Increasing time or frequency must be part of the therapeutic thought in such situation.

International recommendations for dialysis treatment include food surveys among the necessary tools for nutritional status evaluation. Several methods are used: 24-hour food recall, 7-day food diary, 3-day food record, food frequency questionnaire, and the most innovative, pictures of the ingested food shot and sent to the dietician with a mobile phone. The information from these surveys is run on software that calculates the amount of ingested nutriments. All these methods have their own advantages and drawbacks. Underestimation of energy intake by the EA is frequent when compared to other techniques. Protein intake from EA can be compared to the proteic catabolic rate (PCR) from urea kinetic modeling. Among EA techniques, the 7-day diary provides the best correlation of protein intake measured with PCR. It is important that the dietician is adequately trained in one of the EA techniques that he or she will be able to apply for the longitudinal follow-up of the patients.

The session duration for hemodialysis (HD) patients has become an old-fashioned issue since the blooming debate on dialysis frequency. However, all over the dialysis community, the most frequent scheme of HD treatment remains three-weekly sessions. Pursuing long dialysis strategy 3 times/week for ESRD patients in Tassin after the retirement of the historical leaders relies on the wisdom pillars of dialysis clinical adequacy that are survival, session tolerance, blood pressure control, nutrition and phosphate control. Recent data, including those of the large-scale DOPPS, clearly indicate that survival is associated with the length of the HD session and the ultrafiltration (UF) rate. The UF rate is the key factor for session tolerance and long dialysis reduces dramatically the incidence of significant intradialytic hypotension episodes. The corollary result is the easier and efficient control of extracellular volume overload and its complications, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy and acute pulmonary edema. Whereas conventional HD patients present with progressive nutritional impairment, like in the HEMO study, stability of nutritional markers is obtained with long dialysis. It also allows a significant reduction of hyperphosphatemia and phosphate-binder prescriptions when compared to DOPPS data. All these clinical markers that represent the essence of dialysis adequacy, favor strongly the strategy of a sequential long-hour dialysis program that may clinically and economically challenge with daily programs.

Malnutrition is frequent in dialysis patients and it increases the mortality risk in this setting. There are many causes of malnutrition including protein metabolism impairment, amino acid and nutrient losses in dialysate, dialysis-induced muscle catabolism, metabolic acidosis, increased energy expenditure, resistance to anabolic hormones, comorbidities, oxidant stress and inflammation whose mechanisms are not identified well. Inflammation and malnutrition are associated with vascular complications frequently observed in dialysis patients. Daily nutrient needs have been established from nitrogen balance studies. The recommended intakes are 1,2 g/ kg/day for proteins, and 35 Kcal/kg/day for energy. Food intake in dialysis patients remain far below these recommendations in most of the studies, mainly because of anorexia caused by inflammation and the uremic state. Dialysis dose or frequency increase food intake. Evaluation of the nutritional status relies on biological parameters and anthropometrics, with food intake records. Nutritional scores, established from these data, are well correlated with patient outcomes. Malnutrition treatment includes counselling, and suppression of all inflammation sources. Appetite stimulants have been seldom used in this setting. Oral supplements may be efficient Intradialytic parenteral nutrition in hemodialysis patients and amino acid-enriched dialysate in peritoneal dialysis improve nutritional parameters of malnourished patients but their efficiency to improve patient survival is questioned. Adequate nutrition is an important challenge for dialysis patient outcome. Nutritional status must be regularly assessed and treated if necessary. Close collaboration between dialysis and dietetic staffs remains essential to handle this challenge.

A long hemodialysis (HD), 3 x 8 hours/week, has been used without significant modification in Tassin for 35 years with excellent morbidity and mortality results. It can be performed during the day or overnight. The relatively good survival is mainly due to a lower cardiovascular mortality than usually reported in dialysis patients. This in turn is mainly due to the good control of blood pressure (BP) including drug-free hypertension control and low incidence of intradialytic hypotension. This control of BP is probably the result of the tight extracellular volume normalization (dry weight), although one cannot exclude the effect of other factors such as serum phosphorus control well achieved using long dialysis. The high dose of small and even more of middle molecules is another essential virtue of long dialysis, leading to good nutrition, correction of anemia, control of serum phosphate and potassium with low doses of medications and providing a very cost-effective treatment. In 2002 one must aim at optimal rather than just adequate dialysis. Optimal dialysis needs to correct as perfectly as possible each and every abnormality due to renal failure. It can be achieved using longer (or more frequent) sessions. Overnight dialysis is the most logical way of implementing long HD with the lowest possible hindrance on patient's life. Due to the change in case mix a decreasing number of patients are able or willing to go on overnight dialysis, education to be autonomous is more difficult, but the benefit is still there.