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Obesity may negatively impact the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). However, the impact of obesity on PD-related outcomes remains unclear. We herein examined the association of high body mass index (BMI) with complete hemodialysis (HD) transfer, transition to HD and PD/HD hybrid therapy, peritonitis, catheter exit-site and tunnel infection (ESI/TI), and heart failure-related hospitalization.This retrospective cohort study included 120 patients who underwent PD-catheter insertion between January 2008 and June 2018. BMI ≥ 25 kg/mThe follow-up duration was 46.2 (23.3-75.3) months. The time until transfer to HD and hybrid therapy was significantly shorter in the high BMI group than that in the low BMI group, whereas the time until HD transfer was not significantly different between the two groups (P 0.001 and 0.18, respectively). Peritonitis-free and ESI/TI-free survivals were significantly shorter in the high BMI group than those in the low BMI group (P = 0.006 and 0.03, respectively). After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes mellitus, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, high BMI remained a significant risk factor for transferring to HD and hybrid therapy, peritonitis, and ESI/TI (hazard ratio [HR] 2.60, P 0.001; HR 2.08, P = 0.01; HR 2.64, P = 0.02, respectively).BMI ≥ 25 kg/m

Unplanned dialysis initiation is associated with poor outcomes. It is controversial whether patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) should receive renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of RAS inhibitor therapy in patients with advanced CKD on the incidence of unplanned dialysis initiation. This single-center, retrospective study included patients who started maintenance dialysis at our hospital between April 2014 and March 2021. Patients who initiated dialysis within 6 months of nephrology referral or after kidney transplant were excluded. Among 334 patients (aged 70.0 [59.0-79.0] years; 28.4% women), 186 (55.7%) and 148 (44.3%) had planned and unplanned dialysis initiation, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the use of RAS inhibitors was significantly associated with a lower incidence of unplanned dialysis initiation (odds ratio [OR], 0.36; P 0.01). Female sex (OR, 0.41; P 0.05), use of potassium binders (OR, 0.28; P 0.001), earlier referral to nephrology (OR, 0.39; P 0.01), and earlier discussion of renal replacement therapy (OR, 0.33; P 0.001) were also significantly associated with a lower incidence, whereas older age (OR, 1.28; P 0.05), higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR, 1.24; P 0.05), and faster decline in kidney function (OR, 1.29; P 0.01) were associated with a higher risk of unplanned dialysis initiation. RAS inhibitor therapy in patients with advanced CKD is associated with a lower risk of unplanned dialysis initiation.

Introduction: Despite excellent biocompatibility, insertion of silicone peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters can induce minor foreign body reaction, affecting long-term patient outcomes. We evaluated the effect of eosinophilic reaction associated with PD catheter insertion on outcomes of patients initiating PD. Methods: Eosinophilic reaction to PD catheter insertion was defined as the ratio of peripheral blood eosinophil count at 1 week after insertion (E1W) to pre-insertion eosinophil count (E0), and the association of E1W/E0 with technique survival, peritonitis-free survival, and heart failure (HF)-related hospitalization-free survival was analyzed. Results: This retrospective cohort study included 116 patients (89 male patients) who underwent PD catheter insertion between January 2008 and June 2018 (61.3 ± 12.9 years). The follow-up duration was 46.2 (23.8–75.3) months. E1W was significantly higher than E0 (median, 333 vs. 234/μL, p < 0.001), with a median E1W/E0 of 1.54. The log-rank test showed that technique survival, peritonitis-free survival, and HF-related hospitalization-free survival were significantly better in patients with E1W/E0 < 1.54 than in those with E1W/E0 ≥ 1.54 (p = 0.002, p = 0.01; HR 2.19, p < 0.001; HR 2.15, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Eosinophilic reaction at the time of PD catheter insertion is a novel marker that may predict outcomes in patients initiating PD.

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a sedative agent with minimal respiratory and hemodynamic effects. The present study aimed to evaluate its effectiveness in peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter insertion. This single-center retrospective study included patients who underwent PD catheter insertion under spinal anesthesia in our hospital between January 2016 and December 2020. Patients were divided into the DEX and non-DEX groups according the use of DEX. After 1:1 propensity score matching to adjust for age, sex, body mass index, mean blood pressure (BP), and Charlson comorbidity index, we compared operation-related outcomes, including peak numerical rating scale (NRS), occurrence of nausea, vital signs, or operative time between the two groups. Of a total of 44 patients, 9 patients received DEX, and 35 did not. After propensity score matching, each group consisted of 8 patients. Peak NRS was significantly lower (P = 0.003) in the DEX group compared with the non-DEX group. Maximum mean BP during the operation was also significantly lower in the DEX group compared with the non-DEX group (P = 0.020), with no significant differences in minimum mean BP between the two groups (P = 0.831). The DEX group showed a trend of shortened operative time (P = 0.068). There were no significant differences in the occurrence of nausea (P = 1.000). Moreover, there was no clinically important adverse event associated with use of DEX. The use of DEX in PD catheter insertion under spinal anesthesia could safely improve operative analgesia.

Despite the superiority of peritoneal dialysis (PD) over hemodialysis (HD) regarding health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the specific HRQOL domain(s) that predict unplanned HD transfer remains uncertain. In this cohort study, we assessed the HRQOL of 50 outpatients undergoing PD using the Japanese version 1.3 Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form from March 2017 to March 2018 and prospectively analyzed the association of each HRQOL component with HD transfer until June 2021. During the follow-up (41.5 (13.0–50.1) months), 21 patients were transferred to HD. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, sex, PD vintage, urine output, Charlson comorbidity index, and incremental shuttle walking test, a higher sleep score was significantly associated with lower HD transfer rates (HR 0.70 per 10, p = 0.01). An adjusted subdistribution hazard model where elected transition to HD, death, and transplantation were considered competing events of unintended HD transfer that showed sleep score as an exclusive predictor of HD transfer (HR 0.70 per 10, p = 0.002). Our results suggest that sleep score among the HRQOL subscales is instrumental in predicting HD transfer in patients undergoing PD.

Background: Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), which induces a Th2-dominated inflammation, is a well-known biomarker that reflects the severity of atopic dermatitis. The present study aimed to evaluate TARC as a Th2-associated marker with chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) in patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods: This single-centre cross-sectional study included patients who underwent PD in our hospital between August 2020 and July 2021. The severity and impaired quality of life (QOL) of CKD-aP were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese version of the 5-D itch scale (5D-J), respectively. Results: A total of 48 patients with PD were included in the present study. Age and dialysis vintage were (mean ± SD) 64.8 ± 12.0 year and (median (IQR)) 38.5 (11.5–91.5) month, respectively. VAS and 5D-J scores were 3.3 ± 2.0 and 10.5 (9.0–12.0), respectively. Serum TARC level was 481.5 (278.9–603.4) pg/mL (upper limits of normal 450 pg/mL) and significantly correlated with VAS ( r = 0.39, p = 0.006) and 5D-J score ( r = 0.37, p = 0.009). Multivariate linear analysis revealed that higher serum TARC level was significantly associated with VAS ( p < 0.001) and 5D-J score ( p < 0.001). Furthermore, the serum brain natriuretic peptide level tended to be associated with VAS ( p = 0.060) and 5D-J score ( p = 0.029). Conclusion: Serum TARC level is an independent predictor of the severity and impaired QOL of CKD-aP in patients with PD, and TARC might be involved in the pathogenesis of CKD-aP.

Patients play a crucial role in preventing peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related events, including peritonitis and fluid overload, as PD procedures are mainly carried out at home. We asked patients to submit a PD self-assessment sheet at each outpatient visit in our daily clinical practice and evaluated its usefulness for outcomes in patients initiating PD.This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent PD catheter insertion between January 2008 and October 2018. The submission rate of a PD self-assessment sheet was calculated from medical records until PD cessation or study completion (October 2020). The association between the submission rate and technique survival was analysed.Among the 105 recruited patients (78 men, 60.4 ± 12.2 years), 44 discontinued PD and transferred to haemodialysis during the study period. The follow-up was 52.3 (28.7-79.3) months, and the median submission rate was 78%. The log-rank test showed that technique survival was significantly better in patients with a submission rate ≥ 78% than those with a submission rate 78% (p = .006). The submission rate remained significantly associated with less technique failure (hazard ratio 0.88 per 10%, p = .002) by the Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, estimated glomerular filtration rate and geriatric nutritional risk index.The submission rate of a PD self-assessment sheet is useful as a predictor of technique survival in patients initiating PD. Instruction that increases submission may improve technique survival in PD patients.

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has contributed to improved patient-centered outcomes and prognosis in patients with end-stage renal disease on automated peritoneal dialysis (APD). However, evidence from prospective trials is lacking.The participants (n = 15; median age: 65 years; males: 10; peritoneal dialysis vintage: 6.4 ± 3.5 years) randomly received APD therapy using the Kaguya® APD system either with or without the connective use of the cloud-based RPM software Sharesource® for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was patient satisfaction assessed using a modified nine-item Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM-9) questionnaire. The secondary outcomes were healthcare resource consumption, the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) subscales assessed with the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form questionnaire, and clinical laboratory parameters.Significant improvements were observed in the TSQM-9 subscales of Effectiveness (64.4 ± 18.8 vs. 57.8 ± 18.8; P = 0.006) and Convenience (76.3 ± 15.4 vs. 63.3 ± 17.3; P 0.001) in patients on Sharesource®. Moreover, Sharesource® reduced the total amount of healthcare resource consumption (0.80 ± 1.32 vs. 1.87 ± 2.39 times/12 weeks; P = 0.02) and consultation time during regular monthly visits (813 ± 269 vs. 1024 ± 292 s; P 0.001). A significant increase in ultrafiltration volume was found associated with more frequent modification of APD prescription in patients with Sharesource®. Sharesource® also improved the HRQOL subscale of General Health and Vitality.Sharesource® can improve patient-centered outcomes in patients on APD while reducing the treatment burden for both patients and medical staff.The study was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT Number: jRCTs032190005).

The risk factors for intradialytic systolic blood pressure decline remain poorly understood. We aimed to identify clinical and laboratory predictors of the intradialytic systolic blood pressure decline, considering its seasonal variation. In a retrospective cohort of 47,219 hemodialysis sessions of 307 patients undergoing hemodialysis over one year in three dialysis clinics, the seasonal variation and the predictors of intradialytic systolic blood pressure decline (predialysis systolic blood pressure--nadir intradialytic systolic blood pressure) were assessed using cosinor analysis and linear mixed models adjusted for baseline or monthly hemodialysis-related variables, respectively. The intradialytic systolic blood pressure decline was greatest and least in the winter and summer, respectively, showing a clear seasonal pattern. In both models adjusted for baseline and monthly hemodialysis-related parameters, calcium channel blocker use was associated with a smaller decline (-4.58 [95% confidence interval (CI), -5.84 to -3.33], P < 0.001; -3.66 [95% CI, -5.69 to -1.64], P < 0.001) and α blocker use, with a greater decline (3.25 [95% CI, 1.53-4.97], P < 0.001; 3.57 [95% CI, 1.08-6.06], P = 0.005). Baseline and monthly serum phosphorus levels were positively correlated with the decline (1.55 [95% CI, 0.30-2.80], P = 0.02; 0.59 [95% CI, 0.16-1.00], P = 0.007), and baseline and monthly normalized protein catabolic rates were inversely correlated (respectively, -22.41 [95% CI, -33.53 to -11.28], P < 0.001; 9.65 [95% CI, 4.60-14.70], P < 0.001). In conclusion, calcium channel blocker use, α blocker avoidance, and serum phosphorus-lowering therapy may attenuate the intradialytic systolic blood pressure decline and should be investigated in prospective trials.

Background The activation of NAD+-dependent deacetylase, Sirt1, by the administration of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) ameliorates various aging-related diseases. Methods Diabetic db/db mice were treated with NMN transiently for 2 weeks and observed for effects on diabetic nephropathy (DN). Results At 14 weeks after the treatment period, NMN attenuated the increases in urinary albumin excretion in db/db mice without ameliorating hemoglobin A1c levels. Short-term NMN treatment mitigated mesangium expansion and foot process effacement, while ameliorating decreased Sirt1 expression and increased claudin-1 expression in the kidneys of db/db mice. This treatment also improved the decrease in the expression of H3K9me2 and DNMT1. Short-term NMN treatment also increased kidney concentrations of NAD+ and the expression of Sirt1 and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), and it maintained nicotinamide mononucleotide adenyltransferase1 (Nmnat1) expression in the kidneys. In addition, survival rates improved after NMN treatment. Conclusions Short-term NMN treatment in early-stage DN has remote renal protective effects through the upregulation of Sirt1 and activation of the NAD+ salvage pathway, both of which indicate NMN legacy effects on DN.