Clinical impact of residual renal function on patients starting dialysis treatment.

We describe our clinical experience of monitoring residual renal function of patients on regular dialysis treatment as residual renal function can play an important role in the management of patients undergoing regular dialysis. With active residual renal function it is possible to delay the start of haemodialytic programmes. In managing dialysis treatments, it is important to maintain residual renal function by preventing hypotensive events. It is known that in acute renal failure intradialytic hypotension is able to reduce the recovery of renal function. Out patient follow-up plays an important role for these patients. This paper will also discuss the use of biocompatible membranes during dialysis. The outcome is that they are not associated with better maintenance of residual renal function.

Clinical impact of residual function in haemodialysis.

The term residual renal function (RRF) refers to the small renal function activity persisting in patients affected by chronic renal failure in the uraemic phase. It is associated with better clinical features as well as better laboratory values (1). Nevertheless, RRF usually decreases with variable rates over time; in particular peritoneal dialysis is associated with a better preservation of RRF than haemodialysis.