Home Dialysis Central update
[Vol.4, No.4, April 24, 2007]
Hello, everyone! Have you ordered your FREE Home Dialysis Central postcard handouts? Get yours today!
Preview our NEW home dialysis DVD!
Home Dialysis: Your Life, Your Choice will be available soon. While you wait, meet Teressa, whose kidneys failed on her 25th birthday. Find out how she took her treatment home—and how her life works for her.
CAPD and CCPD come out even in metaanalysis
A Cochrane database review looked at studies comparing CAPD and CCPD for peritonitis, hernias, switching to HD, fluid leaks, hospital stays, and death—and found no significant differences between them. CCPD may have some pluses in terms of schedule for younger, working patients. Read the abstract.
Switching from standard to nocturnal HD improves vitamin D levels
In 35 patients who did nocturnal HD for 6 months or more, levels of active vitamin D rose significantly. The study patients had no diet limits, and their serum phosphorus levels fell after the switch from in-center HD. Normalizing phosphorus levels may help the body to produce more active vitamin D. Read the abstract.
Low serum albumin is a risk factor for peritonitis in PD patients
On PD? Be sure to eat enough protein. A new study looked at whether conventional PD solutions were linked to more or less peritonitis than Nutrineal or Extraneal. There were no significant differences between them—but patients with serum albumin levels less than 3g/dL were at significantly higher risk. Read the abstract.
"I knew i was at risk," begins Amy...
Amy's father did home hemodialysis due to polycystic kidney disease (PKD) when she was young, and she cherishes the time they spent together during his treatments. When her kidneys failed, she chose nocturnal home HD. Read her story.
Topic of the month: LVH: heading off a common heart problem
As the old song goes, "the knee bone's connected to the leg bone...." Kidney failure affects your whole body, and your heart can be first in line for harm. We'll tell you how to prevent it (hint: home dialysis can help!), what tests to ask about, and how to protect your heart.
Will Medicare pay for changes to my house so I can do dialysis at home?
Click here to learn the answers to this & other questions about Medicare payment for PD and home hemo.
Innovative papers
One of Lynne Lannings' identical twin daughters developed kidney failure—and the other didn't. In a reprint of her letter to the editor at Nephrology News & Issues, learn how the disease affected Jenna—and how daily home hemo gave her back her life!
Read all about it!
Review home dialysis-related news, courtesy of Nephrology News & Issues. This week's stories include:
- JAMA report: Anemia treatment for patients with kidney disease can differ by dialysis facility type
- Grassley preparing a proposal to bundle drugs with ESRD treatment
- AKF launches art contest for kids with kidney disease
- Anemia after kidney transplant worsens outcomes
Featured link: home dialysis options compared—see our chart!
How do PD and home hemo stack up against in-center HD? See for yourself with our downloadable comparison chart.
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