Clinical Profiles and Outcomes of End-Stage Renal Failure Patients with Late Initiation of Renal Replacement Therapy Based on Uremic Symptoms under Intensive Renoprotective Therapies

Abstract

Aim: This study describes the clinical profiles and outcomes of renal failure patients with late initiation of renal replacement therapies (RRT) based on uremic symptoms under intensive treatment prior to the start of RRT (IT). Methods: Thirteen patients (male 10, female 3) with end-stage renal disease who preferred to wait for the initiation of RRT until uremic symptoms appeared regardless of serum creatinine (s-Cr) and 24-hour creatinine clearance (24-hour Ccr) were chosen. All patients received IT including a low-protein diet, antihypertensive drugs including enalapril, erythropoietin and others to prevent and manage uremic states until the initiation of RRT. Clinical findings at the initiation of RRT and the outcomes after the start of RRT were examined. Results: RRT was initiated 23.6 ± 16.9 months after IT without any complication in all patients when mild uremic symptoms appeared. Uremic symptoms, blood pressure, serum albumin, potassium, calcium and urinary Cr excretion were well controlled except inorganic phosphate, hemoglobin and cardiac size. 24-hour Ccr and s-Cr were 3.4 ± 0.7 ml/min and 17.4 ± 3.8 mg/dl at initiation of RRT. The outcomes of all the patients were all well during chronic RRT. Conclusion: Intensive treatment prior to the start of RRT can diminish uremic symptoms and complications so that RRT might be initiated safely and with fewer problems, even in the face of lower 24-hour Ccr and markedly higher s-Cr.

Serum phosphate as an additional marker for initiating hemodialysis in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease

“…Therefore, patients with advanced CKD typically retain phosphate and develop hyperphosphatemia. Previous research indicated that significant hyperphosphatemia occurred in CKD patients who were under intensive treatment and who chose to delay initiation of RRT [14] . However, it is unknown if hyperphosphatemia can be used as an indicator for initiation of RRT in such patients.…”