These results support the efficacy and safety of bicarbonate-buffered peritoneal solutions in a controlled randomized comparison for up to six months. Peritoneal dialysis solutions containing the physiological buffer bicarbonate might effectively replace conventional lactate-buffered CAPD solutions.

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Patient satisfaction is an important aspect of dialysis care, only recently evaluated in clinical studies. We developed a tool to assess peritoneal dialysis (PD) customer satisfaction, and sought to evaluate and validate the Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ), quantifying PD patient satisfaction. The CSQ included questions regarding administrative issues, Delivery Service, PD Training, Handling Requests, and transportation. The study was performed using interviews in all Hungarian Fresenius Medical Care dialysis centers offering PD. CSQ results were compared with psychosocial measures to identify if patient satisfaction was associated with perception of social support and illness burden, or depression. We assessed CSQ internal consistency and validity. Factor analysis explored potential underlying dimensions of the CSQ. One hundred and thirty-three patients treated with PD for end-stage renal disease for more than 3 months were interviewed. The CSQ had high internal consistency. There was high patient satisfaction with customer service. PD patient satisfaction scores correlated with quality of life (QOL) and social support measures, but not with medical or demographic factors, or depressive affect. The CSQ is a reliable tool to assess PD customer satisfaction. PD patient satisfaction is associated with perception of QOL. Efforts to improve customer satisfaction may improve PD patients' quantity as well as QOL.

Application of an amino-acid/bicarbonate solution resulted in a small but significant increase in peritoneal permeability. Also increased concentrations of various cytokines/prostanoids were measured in the effluent. According to in vitro testing with mononuclear phagocytes both bicarbonate-buffered fluids were to the same extent less inhibitory to certain cell functions than lactate-buffered solution.

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Background. A full correction of anaemia in haemodialysis (HD) patients may lead to an increased risk of vascular access (VA) failure. We studied the relationship between haemoglobin (Hb) level and VA survival. Methods. Incident patients between January 2000 and December 2002 with <1 month on HD were considered. The relative risk (RR) of access failure was evaluated in four different groups of patients divided according to their Hb level (<10, 10-12, 12-13 and >13 g/dl). Other factors possibly influencing VA survival were also considered: age, gender, diabetes, vascular disease, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) or recombinant human erythropoeitin therapy. Results. We studied 1254 patients (1057 with autologous fistulae, 75 grafts and 122 permanent catheters at admission). Based on Cox analysis, we found the next statistically significant RR of VA failure to be 2.3 times higher with grafts than with arterio-venous fistulae (AVFs) and 1.8 times higher in AVFs with Hb <10 g/dl than in AVFs of the next Hb group. There was no statistically significant difference in the RR of VA failure between patients with Hb 10-12 g/dl and those with Hb 12-13 g/dl or >13 g/dl. Diabetes (RR: 1.41, P ¼ 0.06), age >65 years (RR: 1.32; P ¼ 0.11) and iPTH (RR: 1.56; P ¼ 0.01) were identified as predictive factors for VA failure; ACE inhibitors or ARB (RR: 0.69; P ¼ 0.03) were found to be protective factors. Conclusions. In the studied population, the correction of Hb level to >12 g/dl was not associated with a higher incidence of VA thrombosis than in patients with Hb between 10 and 12 g/dl. ACE inhibitors or ARBs were found to be protective factors, and diabetes, age >65 years and iPTH >400 pg/ml were negative predictive factors for VA survival.

Background: A new neutral peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF; Balance^®) provided in a two-compartment bag (pH 7.4, no plasticizers, minimal glucose degradation products – GDP) was investigated in comparison with a neutral control (Hanks’ balanced salt solution with gelatin 0.1%) and other PDFs with standard properties and plasticizers (Andy plus^®, pH 5.2, GDP), plasticizer free (stay safe^®, pH 5.2, GDP), and in addition plasticizer free after sterile filtration instead of heat sterilization (pH 5.2) regarding the function of peripheral blood leukocytes. Methods: Blood was drawn from 12 volunteers, and blood monocytes (MN) and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) were collected. The cells were incubated for 30 min in control medium and the PDFs: glucose 1.5% (83 mmol/l) and 4.25% (238 mmol/l). Respiratory burst of cells was evaluated by chemiluminescence and superoxide (SO) generation after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate. Results: In comparison with the control medium, incubation of MN in the two-compartment PDF showed preservation of respiratory burst. In contrast, the incubation of MN in standard PDF and plasticizer-free PDF showed impaired functions. The same was found for PMNL. SO anion measurement in MN and PMNL after incubation in the new two-compartment PDF also showed preservation of cell function in comparison with the control medium. The incubation of PMNL in standard PDF and plasticizer-free PDF with a high glucose content showed depressed SO anion generation. Conclusions: These in vitro data demonstrate a better preservation of in vitro phagocyte function with adaptation of pH and reduction of glucose, GDP, and plasticizers in PDFs. The best results are achieved with the two-compartment, lactate-based neutral PDF.

Objectives To evaluate the impact of a plasticizer-free device on exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and its major metabolites in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). DEHP is the most commonly used plasticizer in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products; it is added to CAPD bags in order to improve the flexibility of the material. Since DEHP leaches out of the plastic matrix, patients on CAPD are exposed to considerable amounts of DEHP and its metabolites. Design A prospective cross-over study. Setting Department of nephrology in a teaching hospital. Participants Six patients (4 female, 2 male) stable on peritoneal dialysis (PD) for at least 6 months. Interventions Patients were switched from a plasticizer-containing PVC CAPD system (A.N.D.Y. Plus, Fresenius Medical Care, Bad Homburg, Germany) to a polyolefine-made plasticizer-free system (stay-safe, Fresenius). Main Outcome Measures Prior to and 42 days after the switch, 24-hour effluent dialysate and urine collections were performed and 10 mL blood was drawn. Concentrations of DEHP, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), phthalic acid (PA), and 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) in urine, dialysate, and serum were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results Complete data were obtained from 5 patients. Serum levels of PA decreased significantly during the study period (0.137 ± 0.078 mg/L vs 0.124 ± 0.049 mg/L, p = 0.04), and the respective levels of DEHP decreased insignificantly (0.097 ± 0.076 mg/L vs 0.069 ± 0.046 mg/L, p = 0.07), whereas the concentrations of MEHP and 2-EH remained unchanged. Urine concentrations of PA were high (0.81 ± 0.69 mg/L) but did not change substantially (0.70 ± 0.50 mg/L). Effluent dialysate concentrations of MEHP and PA decreased significantly (0.0176 ± 0.004 mg/L vs 0.0040 ± 0.0007 mg/L, p = 0.043 and 0.158 ± 0.056 mg/L vs 0.111 ± 0.051 mg/L, p = 0.043, respectively). Conclusions Although PD patients seem to be exposed to other sources of phthalates in addition to dialysis, use of plasticizer-free devices may help to reduce potentially immunosuppressive exposure to phthalate esters.