[SARS CoV-2 related disease features in a population of chronic hemodialysis patients].

Patients on chronic dialysis have an increased risk for SARS CoV-2 virus disease and its complications because of multiple comorbidities and alterations in the immune response caused by renal disease. In this retrospective observational study we describe the clinical features and the evolution of SARS CoV-2-related disease in 19 patients of our Pesaro and Fano facilities, where incidence and mortality of the epidemic were among the highest in Italy. A total of 176 patients were undergoing chronic treatment, 153 hemodialysis and 23 peritoneal dialysis. The incidence of infection was 10,8%, with 84% needing hospitalization and mortality amounting to 53%. The most frequent onset symptom was fever (84,2%) and the most used therapy was an association of low molecular weight heparin and hydroxychloroquine (57,9%). Comparing the deceased and survivor populations we noticed significant differences in age and presence of cardiopathy for what concerns anamnestic data and in fatigue and dyspnea in terms of clinical presentation. LDH and CPK resulted highest among deceased patients, while the use of enoxaparin was more frequent in survivors. By observing contagions over time, we also noticed that most of the cases, and the ones with worse clinical condition and outcome, all occurred in the early stage of the epidemic and in particular within the first 20 days from the implementation and codification of the measures to prevent its spread, the only modifiable factor that had an unmistakable effect on the evolution of events.

Post-dilution hemodiafiltration with a heparin-grafted polyacrylonitrile membrane.

The aim of this multicenter, prospective study was to explore the possibility of carrying out routine sessions of post-dilution hemodiafiltration with a polyacrylonitrile membrane grafted with heparin (HeprAN) and reduced anticoagulation. Forty-four patients from eight centers were included in the study and treated by means of post-dilution on-line hemodiafiltration with automatic control of TMP, according to three different modalities tested consecutively: phase 1, polyethersulfone filter primed with heparinized saline and anticoagulated with continuous infusion of unfractionated heparin 1000/h; phase 2, HeprAN membrane filter primed with saline without heparin. Anticoagulation: a 1000-unit bolus of unfractionated heparin at the start of session followed by a second one at the end of the second dialysis hour; phase 3, same filter and priming procedure as in phase 2; anticoagulation with nadroparin calcium at the beginning of treatment. Partial or massive clotting of the dialyzer occurred in less than 1% of sessions in phase 1; 10% and 7% in phase 2; and 1% and 2% in phase 3. Clotting limited to the drip chambers was observed in 13%, 34% and 12%, respectively. The study of coagulation parameters showed a better profile when low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was used in association with HeprAN membrane, while the generation of TAT complexes did not differ from that observed with the standard anticoagulation modality used in phase 1. Our results suggest that the HeprAN membrane can be used safely in routine post-dilution hemodiafiltration with reduced doses of LMWH.

The effect of on-line high-flux hemofiltration versus low-flux hemodialysis on mortality in chronic kidney failure: a small randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Given the paucity of prospective randomized controlled trials assessing comparative performances of different dialysis techniques, we compared on-line high-flux hemofiltration (HF) with ultrapure low-flux hemodialysis (HD), assessing survival and morbidity in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). STUDY DESIGN: An investigator-driven, prospective, multicenter, 3-year-follow-up, centrally randomized study with no blinding and based on the intention-to-treat principle. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Prevalent patients with ESRD (age, 16 to 80 years; vintage > 6 months) receiving renal replacement therapy at 20 Italian dialysis centers. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were centrally randomly assigned to HD (n = 32) or HF (n = 32). OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS: All-cause mortality, hospitalization rate for any cause, prevalence of dialysis hypotension, standard biochemical indexes, and nutritional status. Analyses were performed using the multivariate analysis of variance and Cox proportional hazard method. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in survival with HF compared with HD (78%, HF versus 57%, HD) at 3 years of follow-up after allowing for the effects of age (P = 0.05). End-of-treatment Kt/V was significantly higher with HD (1.42 +/- 0.06 versus 1.07 +/- 0.06 with HF), whereas beta(2)-microglobulin levels remained constant in HD patients (33.90 +/- 2.94 mg/dL at baseline and 36.90 +/- 5.06 mg/dL at 3 years), but decreased significantly in HF patients (30.02 +/- 3.54 mg/dL at baseline versus 23.9 +/- 1.77 mg/dL; P < 0.05). The number of hospitalization events for each patient was not significantly different (2.36 +/- 0.41 versus 1.94 +/- 0.33 events), whereas length of stay proved to be significantly shorter in HF patients compared with HD patients (P < 0.001). End-of-treatment body mass index decreased in HD patients, but increased in HF patients. Throughout the study period, the difference in trends of intradialytic acute hypotension was statistically significant, with a clear decrease in HF (P = 0.03). LIMITATIONS: This is a small preliminary intervention study with a high dropout rate and problematic generalizability. CONCLUSION: On-line HF may improve survival independent of Kt/V in patients with ESRD, with a significant decrease in plasma beta(2)-microglobulin levels and increased body mass index. A larger study is required to confirm these results.