Insulin is protein-anabolic in chronic renal failure patients.

To examine the protein anabolic actions of insulin in chronic renal failure, the authors measured four sets of whole body leucine fluxes during insulin alone and insulin with amino acid infusion in nine uremic patients before hemodialysis (B-HD). Seven were restudied 8 wk after initiation of maintenance hemodialysis (HD). Six normal subjects served as control (N). All values ( micro mol/kg/h, mean +/- SEM) are presented in the sequence of B-HD, HD, and N, and only P < 0.05 are listed. During Flux 1 (baseline), D (leucine release from body protein degradation) were 114 +/- 7, 126 +/- 4, and 116 +/- 6, respectively. C (leucine oxidation rates) were 18 +/- 2, 17 +/- 2, and 21 +/- 3, respectively. S (leucine disappearance into body protein [index of protein synthesis]) were 96 +/- 6, 107 +/- 4, and 94 +/- 4, respectively, and balances (net leucine flux into protein [values were negative during fasting]) were -18 +/- 2, -17 +/- 2, and -21 +/- 3, respectively. During Flux 2 (low-dose insulin infusion), D were 89 +/- 3, 98 +/- 6, and 94 +/- 5, respectively; C were 12 +/- 1, 11 +/- 2, and 18 +/- 1, respectively (P = 0.02); S were 77 +/- 4, 87 +/- 5, and 76 +/- 5, respectively, and balances were -12 +/- 1, -11 +/- 2, and -18 +/- 1, respectively (P = 0.02). During Flux 3 (high-dose insulin infusion): D were 77 +/- 3, 82 +/- 7, and 84 +/- 5, respectively; C were 9 +/- 1, 8 +/- 1, and 14 +/- 1, respectively (P = 0.005); S were 68 +/- 4, 74 +/- 6, and 70 +/- 5, respectively, and balances were -9 +/- 1, -8 +/- 1, and -14 +/- 1, respectively (P = 0.005). In Flux 4 (insulin infused with amino acids): D were 73 +/- 3, 107 +/- 18, and 85 +/- 7, respectively; C were 35 +/- 4, 29 +/- 5, and 39 +/- 3, respectively; S were 105 +/- 5, 145 +/- 15, and 113 +/- 6, respectively (P = 0.02), and balances were 32 +/- 4, 38 +/- 5, and 27 +/- 3, respectively. These data show that B-HD and HD patients were as sensitive as normal subjects to the protein anabolic actions of insulin. Insulin alone reduced proteolysis and leucine oxidation, and insulin given with amino acids increased net protein synthesis.

Hemodialysis vascular access survival: upper-arm native arteriovenous fistula.

Achieving Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines for native arteriovenous fistulae using the radiocephalic forearm fistula (lower-arm fistula [LAF]) is difficult. This study reports results using the upper-arm native arteriovenous fistula (UAF). From a prospective access database (1992 to 1998), this study was based on 204 patients (322 accesses). Average patient age was 56 +/- 1 years, 63% were men, and 47% had diabetes. A native fistula was the first access in 73% of patients (36%, LAFs; 37%, UAFs) and accounted for 48% of subsequent accesses (13%, LAFs; 35%, UAFs). Younger men were more likely to receive an LAF, but there was no demographic difference between patients receiving a UAF or arteriovenous graft (AVG). Both primary unassisted and cumulative access patencies were significantly better for UAFs than either LAFs or AVGs. For first accesses, cumulative access patency rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 71%, 57%, and 57% for UAFs; 54%, 46%, and 36% for LAFs; and 54%, 28%, and 0% for AVGs (P < 0.01). Despite shorter access survival, AVGs required more total access procedures than either UAFs or LAFs (procedures per access: 2.5, 1.0, and 0.6 for AVGs, UAFs, and LAFs, respectively). When used, catheters were required for dialysis for a longer time for UAFs (median catheter days, 36, 53, and 56 for AVGs, LAFs, and UAFs, respectively; P < 0.05). Access flow rates were greater in UAFs (1,247 mL/min; n = 48; P < 0.01) than AVGs (851 mL/min; n = 30) or LAFs (938 mL/min; n = 31). There was no evidence that UAFs were banded or ligated for steal syndromes or heart failure more often than AVGs or LAFs. These results show that the UAF is a good alternative to an AVG for achieving Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines.