Kidney Dial., Volume 5, Issue 2 (June 2025) – 13 articles

Background: Infections are a major cause of mortality in haemodialysis patients. The increasing antimicrobial resistance globally further exacerbates this concern. Procalcitonin has shown potential in aiding antimicrobial stewardship and reducing the mortality and morbidity associated with infections. This systematic review aims to synthesise the existing literature on the utility of procalcitonin as a diagnostic and monitoring tool for haemodialysis patients with suspected bacteraemia. Methods: Multiple electronic databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library) were systematically searched to identify primary studies evaluating procalcitonin use in haemodialysis patients with suspected bacteraemia. Using a narrative synthesis approach, along with other quality assessment tools, recommendations regarding procalcitonin usage in dialysis were formulated. Results: Eleven studies were identified. The review proposes a procalcitonin-guided antibiotic protocol aimed at facilitating antibiotic use in haemodialysis patients with suspected bacteraemia. Caution is, however, advised against relying solely on procalcitonin for diagnosis, emphasising the integration of procalcitonin with other clinical and biomarkers of infection. Conclusions: Procalcitonin shows promise as a valuable diagnostic and monitoring tool for suspected bacteraemia in haemodialysis patients. While caution is advised against relying solely on PCT for diagnosis, its integration with other clinical indicators can enhance infection management. To fully establish its clinical utility, more research is needed. Full article

Background: Anemia represents a significant complication in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis, primarily caused by reduced renal erythropoietin production. Despite erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) being the cornerstone of treatment, hyporesponsiveness to these agents remains a clinical challenge with implications for patient outcomes. Objective: To identify and quantify risk factors associated with hyporesponsiveness to erythropoietin in patients with CKD on hemodialysis who present with anemia. Methods: This multicenter case–control study analyzed data from 784 hemodialysis patients receiving erythropoietin therapy across six dialysis centers in Ecuador between January and December 2019. Hyporesponsiveness was defined as requiring ≥ 200 IU/kg/week of erythropoietin alfa for ≥3 consecutive months to maintain target hemoglobin levels (10–12 g/dL). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were compared between hyporesponsive cases (n = 123) and responsive controls (n = 661). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors. Results: The prevalence of erythropoietin hyporesponsiveness was 15.69%. A multivariate analysis identified female sex (adjusted OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.20–3.20; p < 0.001), age < 50 years (adjusted OR = 4.25; 95% CI: 2.42–7.47; p < 0.001), serum albumin < 4.0 g/dL (adjusted OR = 10.53; 95% CI: 6.53–16.98; p < 0.001), ferritin ≥ 800 ng/mL (adjusted OR = 7.28; 95% CI: 4.22–12.57; p < 0.001), transferrin saturation < 20% (adjusted OR = 9.27; 95% CI: 5.47–15.69; p < 0.001), parathyroid hormone ≥ 500 pg/mL (adjusted OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.16–3.09; p = 0.011), and use of renin–angiotensin system blockers (adjusted OR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.36–3.71; p = 0.002) as independent risk factors for erythropoietin hyporesponsiveness. Conclusions: Multiple demographic, clinical, and laboratory factors independently contribute to erythropoietin hyporesponsiveness in hemodialysis patients. Identification of these risk factors may guide clinicians in developing individualized treatment approaches, optimizing erythropoietin dosing, and implementing targeted interventions to improve anemia management in this vulnerable population. Full article

Background: Strategies are needed to address the elevated prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in socioeconomically disadvantaged regions where obesity, smoking, and type 2 diabetes rates are high. Methods: Recognising the inadequacy of generic health approaches in complex contexts, this study employed a participatory action research (PAR) framework to design and deliver five co-design community workshops in two stages over one year. Stage one workshops identified key matters of concern and stage two focussed on problem solving and co-creating solutions. The goal was to inform health service delivery in a region with high CKD prevalence and explore strategies to overcome barriers to individualised, collaborative care, and promote self-management. Results: The workshops identified three themes: 1. achieving person/family-centred care; 2. multimorbidity and siloed care (stage one); and 3. a kidney wellness framework (stage two). Conclusions: The findings reinforce the need for enhanced care coordination, and highlight the importance of consistent information sources, clear referral pathways, and centralised data sharing among health professionals. The proposed kidney healthcare framework aims to support various professionals, fostering linkages between primary and tertiary care, with an emphasis on professional development, especially in communicating complex information to individuals with multimorbidities. While co-designed healthcare models show promise, challenges persist in effective self-management amidst complex disease information and multimorbidity. Full article

Gitelman syndrome (GS) is a rare autosomal recessive renal tubulopathy characterized by hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalciuria due to mutations in the SLC12A3 gene. This case report presents a 54-year-old African American female with near syncope and palpitations. The patient had a history of intermittent palpitations and generalized anxiety disorder and was previously diagnosed with GS. On presentation, the patient exhibited symptoms of severe hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia, attributed to medication non-adherence. Laboratory tests confirmed critically low potassium and magnesium levels, with elevated urine sodium and chloride. Treatment was initiated with oral and intravenous potassium and magnesium, leading to the normalization of electrolyte levels. This case highlights the challenges of managing GS, particularly in patients facing socioeconomic barriers that impede medication adherence and healthcare access. Personalized patient education, combined with comprehensive healthcare resources, is essential to mitigate complications and improve long-term outcomes in such cases. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become commonplace in our everyday lives and in healthcare. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a cost-effective method of treatment for kidney failure that is preferred by many patients, but its uptake is limited by several barriers. With the rapid advancements in AI, researchers are developing new tools that could mitigate some of these barriers to promote uptake and improve patient outcomes. AI has the capacity to assist with patient selection and management, predict patient technique failure, predict patient outcomes, and improve accessibility of patient education. Patients already have access to some open-source AI tools, and others are being rapidly developed for implementation in the dialysis space. For ethical implementation, it is essential for providers to understand the advantages and limitations of AI-based approaches and be able to interpret the common metrics used to evaluate their performance. In this review, we provide a general overview of AI with information necessary for clinicians to critically evaluate AI models and tools. We then review existing AI models and tools for PD. Full article

Introduction: The feasibility of enrolling and retaining diverse kidney transplant (KT) seekers in remote studies is sparsely reported. Aims: This study examined the use of a mobile communication strategy to enroll and retain participants within a clinical trial of an automated digital intervention to promote self-learning for kidney transplant access. Materials and Methods: Adult KT-seekers were identified from an administrative database at a transplant center and recruited by email or text supplemented by verbal prompts. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore participant- and study-level characteristics associated with enrollment and response rates. Results: Between April 2022 and June 2023, 743 patients were invited to participate, and 422 were enrolled. Enrollers were more likely to be younger (aOR 1.02; p < 0.001). Early enrollment was associated with text message invitation (OR 2.69, p ≤ 0.014). Survey completion at 1 month was similar across patient sociodemographic, clinical, and study characteristics; however, participants self-reporting Black race were underrepresented at month 6 (OR 0.55, p = 0.015) and month 12 (aOR 0.37, p = 0008), and males were underrepresented at month 12 (aOR 0.45, p = 0.028). Conclusion: Mobile communication methods are viable for enrolling diverse KT-seeking patients and collecting survey data remotely. More work is needed to learn how to best recruit older people and retain diverse groups long-term. Full article

In the last decade, barriers to the growth and utilization of home dialysis have been described in mainstream and significant Nephrology journals. Since then, the suggested solutions have received little attention or have proven ineffective. This situation is even more significant because, in 2019, President Trump issued an executive order to increase the utilization of home dialysis and transplantation. The reasons for failing to achieve the stated goals of the executive order are numerous and can be attributed to barriers at many levels in the health care system. Some of the barriers are unique to the United States and learning from foreign systems would be beneficial. This correspondence attempts to describe and annotate these barriers. I classify them such that local institutions can identify and prioritize solutions. Home dialysis growth can only occur with all stakeholders committing to that end. Full article

Hyperphosphatemia in dialysis patients is associated with adverse outcomes including bone mineral disease, increased total mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. Therefore, maintaining serum phosphate levels within limits is an important aspect of the clinical care of peritoneal dialysis patients. Unfortunately, hyperphosphatemia is commonly seen in the majority of dialysis patients, at least in the USA, despite apparent optimal dietary and pharmacological intervention and adequate dialysis. Herein, we review major aspects of body phosphate homeostasis in healthy subjects and in dialysis patients in order to provide a good background understanding for a more rational approach to manage serum phosphate. Of note, the phosphate concentration measured in blood by clinical laboratories represents a minute portion of the total body phosphate content but the only one that we can easily access at present; this aspect is discussed in detail in this review. We emphasize the curtailment not only of the total oral phosphate intake but also the intake of highly bioavailable phosphate; this, together with the right use of oral phosphate binders and appropriate dialysis, is an important tool. Emerging therapies with agents that block intestinal absorption of phosphate may offer a promising four-pronged approach to phosphate management. Full article

Protein-energy wasting (PEW) increases the morbidity and mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. The existing screening tools (e.g., Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS)) are time-consuming and require expertise. Consequently, assessing a more practical and reliable tool such as handgrip strength (HGS) is important, as it strongly correlates with the PEW status in patients undergoing MHD, in whom increased protein and fat breakdown leads to muscle strength and function loss. A systematic search of five databases identified studies assessing HGS’s predictive value for PEW in patients undergoing MHD, using MIS as the reference. The quality of the studies was evaluated with the updated QUADAS tool. A diagnostic meta-analysis was carried out to estimate the pooled sensitivity, specificity, sROC, and sAUC using a two-level mixed-effects model. From 350 records, five studies were obtained which were included for analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the HGS among male patients were 68% (95%CI: 63–73%) and 66% (95%CI: 53–77%), respectively. Among female patients, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 73% (95%CI: 62–82%) and 65% (95%CI: 48–79%), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio for male patients were 2.0 (95%CI: 1.4 to 2.9) and 0.48 (95%CI: 0.38 to 0.60), respectively. Meanwhile, among female patients, the positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 2.1 (95%CI: 1.4–3.1) and 0.41 (95%CI: 0.29–0.59), respectively. The sAUC for males and females was estimated to be 0.69 (95%CI: 0.65 to 0.73) and 0.75 (95%CI: 0.71–0.79). In summary, the sensitivity and specificity of the HGS were modest for all sexes, with females being more sensitive. HGS may be useful for triaging during daily screening and guiding further examination, but it requires supporting measurements to be employed as a diagnostic tool. PROSPERO: CRD42024595677 as of 1 October 2024. Full article

Introduction: The association between anemia and peritoneal dialysis (PD) withdrawal in patients with stable PD remains poorly established. Herein, we investigated the relationship between anemia and PD withdrawal in patients with stable PD. Materials and Methods: We included 43 patients undergoing PD for at least 6 months between October 2011 and December 2022. Patients were categorized based on their hemoglobin (Hb) levels at the time of their first peritoneal equilibration test (PET) during the study period as follows: Hb ≥ 11 g/dL and Hb < 11 g/dL. The PD withdrawal rates were compared between these groups. Patients were followed up until death or 31 July 2023. Results: During the follow-up, 36 patients discontinued treatment. Patients with Hb < 11 g/dL had a significantly higher PD withdrawal rate than those with Hb ≥ 11 g/dL. Cox proportional hazards analysis identified Hb level as a risk factor for PD withdrawal. Furthermore, Hb levels negatively correlated with the annual decline in urine volume. Conclusions: Our findings suggest anemia as a predictor of PD withdrawal in patients with stable PD. The negative correlation between Hb levels and the annual decline in urine volume implies that anemia may contribute to PD withdrawal via the deterioration of residual renal function. Full article

Background: Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is a common condition in dialysis patients, and is associated with lower quality of life, depression, and sleep problems. CKD-aP is under-recognized and undertreated. While question 20 of the KDQOL is used for CKD-aP assessment in the clinical setting, recent studies testing novel drugs for CKD-aP have used the WI-NRS. Therefore, evaluating the correlation between KDQOL-Q20 and the WI-NRS may enable the identification of patients who could potentially benefit from these treatments. Methods: This was an observational cohort study of patients receiving in-center hemodialysis from the Mount Sinai Kidney Center. Patients completed a baseline survey on CKD-aP (KDQOL-Q20 and WI-NRS), depression, and sleep quality. A repeat survey was conducted at 4 weeks, with the order of the CKD-aP surveys reversed. We defined moderate/severe CKD-aP as a KDQOL-Q20 score ≥2 and a WI-NRS score ≥ 4. Our outcomes of interest were the correlations of KDQOL-Q20 with the WI-NRS, missed HD treatments, depression, and sleep quality. Correlation analysis was performed with Spearman correlation analysis. Association testing between CKD-aP and outcomes was conducted by relative risk estimation with robust error variance. Results: A total of 112 patients completed the study. According to the WI-NRS, 42% of patients reported itching (score of ≥4) while according to KDQOL-Q20, 57% of patients reported itching (score of ≥2). KDQOL-Q20 and the WI-NRS were strongly correlated (r = 0.7; p < 0.001). Patients who had moderate/severe CKD-aP according to KDQOL-Q20 had a non-statistically significant trend towards a lower risk of missed HD treatments and a higher risk of depression, and a statistically significantly higher risk of sleep-related problems, compared to those with no or mild CKD-aP. Conclusions: CKD-aP is a common condition, and is associated with various clinical outcomes. We found a strong correlation between two CKD-aP measures. These results can help to identify patients for CKD-aP treatment. Full article

Increased availability of dialysis services has led to both an increase in the number of elderly, frail, co-morbid patients with advanced chronic kidney disease now being offered dialysis and starting dialysis with residual kidney function. Traditionally, these patients would have been offered in-centre haemodialysis. However, the introduction of an assisted peritoneal dialysis service has allowed more of these elderly patients to be considered for peritoneal dialysis, a home-based treatment, with the exchanges performed by family members or visiting health care staff. It is now realised that the amount of dialytic clearance any individual requires varies, and as such, treatment targets have changed over time from achieving minimum clearance targets to a more holistic approach, considering patient lifestyles, and adapting dialysis prescriptions and schedules to the needs of the individual patient. As dietary intake is often lower in the elderly, coupled with the physiological loss of muscle mass, this results in a reduced generation of waste products of metabolism and consequently requires less dialytic clearance. Thus, this allows many elderly patients to benefit from an incremental approach to starting peritoneal dialysis, potentially beginning with only one or two continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis exchanges, or an overnight cycler for only a few nights/week. Full article

Background: We observed a COVID-19 survivor with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt who developed increased intracranial pressure during hemodialysis. We hypothesized that post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients may have altered cerebral perfusion pressure regulation in response to intracranial pressure changes. Methods: From April to July 2021, we recruited dialysis patients with prior COVID-19 from two Madrid nephrology departments. We also recruited age- and sex-matched dialysis patients without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound was used to measure the middle cerebral artery velocity before dialysis and 30, 60, and 90 min after the initiation of dialysis. Results: The final sample included 37 patients (16 post-COVID-19 and 21 without). The COVID-19 survivors showed a significant pulsatility index increase between 30 and 60 min compared to those without COVID-19. They also had lower heart rates. Conclusions: We propose two mechanisms: an increase in intracranial pressure or a decreased arterial elasticity. A lower heart rate was also observed in the COVID-19 survivors. This study highlights SARS-CoV-2’s multifaceted effects, including potential long-term vascular and cerebral repercussions. Full article