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The development of hemodialysis (HD) membranes has substantially advanced in the last decade. This has resulted in the manufacturing of medium cut-off membranes (MCO) whose internal architecture is based on greater pore size and a smaller diameter, thus promoting the clearance of particles of greater size as well as retrofiltration. Multiple studies have proven their efficacy in the clearance of uremic mid-sized molecules such as β2-microglobulin, free light chains, and some interleukins; this clearance is far superior with MCO membranes when compared with high-flux HD, and similar to that obtained with online hemodiafiltration. This review summarizes the results of the most relevant clinical studies of this membrane in terms of uremic toxin clearance, as well as the features of some clinical outcomes such as quality of life and hospitalizations.

Introduction: Expanded hemodialysis (HDx) is expected to provide enhanced permeability of medium-sized molecules, selective solute retention, and better internal retrofiltration. The primary objective of this study was to compare the efficiency for removal of β2-microglobulin with 3 different extracorporeal therapies (ETs): high-flux hemodialysis (HF), online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF), and HDx. The secondary objective was to evaluate the efficiency of removal of other uremic toxins, including urea, phosphate, CRP, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-⍺, indoxyl sulfate, and p-cresol., Methods: This single-center, randomized, and cross-over study was performed. Patients were randomized to determine the initial modality of treatment, each period lasted 4 weeks and between one modality and another, there was a washout period of 1 week. Reduction ratios (RRs) of different-size molecules and albumin were calculated for the different ET., Results: Twenty-two patients were included, β2-microglobulin RR was greater during both OL-HDF and HDx as compared to HF (RR 62% vs. 73% vs. 27%, respectively, p = <0.0001), and there was no significant difference between HDx and OL-HDF (p = 0.09). A decrease in serum phosphate levels was observed in the HDx and OL-HDF periods, contrary to an increase in HF (-0.79 mg/dL vs. -1.02 mg/dL vs. + 0.11 mg/dL, respectively, p = <0.0001). There was no difference in RRs of other molecules (BUN, CRP, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-⍺, indoxyl sulfate, and p-Cresol). There was no decrease in serum albumin in any ET., Conclusion: HDx provides enhanced removal of β2-microglobulin and phosphate as compared to HF, and similar efficacy as with OL-HDF. HDx should be considered an alternative to chronic convective therapies., (© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Initial reports suggested that kidney involvement after coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) infection was uncommon, but this premise appears to be incorrect. Acute kidney injury can occur through various mechanisms and complicate the course of up to 25% of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in our Institution, and of over 50% of those on invasive mechanical ventilation. Mechanisms of injury include direct kidney injury and predominantly tubular, although glomerular injury has been reported, and resulting from severe hypoxic respiratory failure, secondary infection, and exposure to nephrotoxic drugs. The mainstay of treatment remains the prevention of progressive kidney damage and, in some cases, the use of renal replacement therapy. Although the use of blood purification techniques has been proposed as a potential treatment, results to date have not been conclusive. In this manuscript, the mechanisms of kidney injury by COVID-19, risk factors, and the mainstays of treatment are reviewed.

Background: Since the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, patients with chronic kidney disease vulnerable to suffering more severe COVID-19 disease and worse outcomes have been identified., Objectives: Our study's aim was to determine the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients of hemodialysis (HD) units in Mexico and to describe the availability of confirmatory testing., Methods: This study was multicentric study of 19 HD units, conducted between March 2020 and March 2021., Results: From a total of 5779 patients, 955 (16.5%) cases of suspicious COVID-19 were detected; a SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test was done in only 50.6% of patients. Forty-five percentages were hospitalized and 6% required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). There was no significant difference in mortality between confirmed (131/483) and suspicious (124/472) cases (p = 0.74). The percentage of patients in need of hospitalization, IMV, and deceased was greater than in the rest of the study population., Conclusions: The study revealed that 49.4% of the cases were not confirmed, a worrisome observation given that this is a highly vulnerable population (higher probability of contagion and worse outcomes), in which 100% of patients should have a confirmatory test., (Copyright: © 2022 Permanyer.)

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is of hich risk for patients on chronic hemodialysis due to their immunosuppressed state, advanced age, and the coexistence of significant comorbidities, in particular cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and others. Additionally, they constitute a closed conglomerate since they come to treatment regularly, spending hours in the treatment places, exposed to a possible acquisition of the infection. Finally, going to their treatment regularly prevents them from remaining in home isolation and with potential exposure. These recommendations summarize the interventions proposed by three international organizations and add some suggested by national experts, with the aim to early identify the patients and health personnel at risk and reducing the risk of infection., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflict of interests. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.