Seminars in Dialysis 

About: Seminars in Dialysis is an academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Dialysis & Hemodialysis. It has an ISSN identifier of 0894-0959. Over the lifetime, 3483 publications have been published receiving 63414 citations. The journal is also known as: Semin Dial.

Serum albumin: relationship to inflammation and nutrition.

Abstract: Hypoalbuminemia is the result of the combined effects of inflammation and inadequate protein and caloric intake in patients with chronic disease such as chronic renal failure. Inflammation and malnutrition both reduce albumin concentration by decreasing its rate of synthesis, while inflammation alone is associated with a greater fractional catabolic rate (FCR) and, when extreme, increased transfer of albumin out of the vascular compartment. A vicious cascade of events ensues in which inflammation induces anorexia and reduces the effective use of dietary protein and energy intake and augments catabolism of the key somatic protein, albumin. Hypoalbuminemia is a powerful predictor of mortality in patients with chronic renal failure, and the major cause of death in this population is due to cardiovascular events. Inflammation is associated with vascular disease and likely causes injury to the vascular endothelium, and hypoalbuminemia as two separate expressions of the inflammatory process. Albumin has a myriad of important physiologic effects that are essential for normal health. However, simply administering albumin to critically ill patients with hypoalbuminemia has not been shown to improve survival or reduce morbidity. Thus the inference from these clinical studies suggests that the cause of hypoalbuminemia, rather than low albumin levels specifically, is responsible for morbidity and mortality.

National surveillance of dialysis-associated diseases in the United States, 2002

Abstract: In December 2002, all U.S. chronic hemodialysis centers were surveyed regarding selected patient care practices and dialysis-associated diseases. The results were compared with similar surveys conducted in previous years. In 2002, 85% of hemodialysis centers were free-standing and 81% operated for profit; the proportion of centers operating for profit has increased each year since 1985. During 1995-2002, the percentage of patients who received dialysis through central catheters increased from 13% to 26%; this trend is worrisome, as infections and antimicrobial use are higher among patients receiving dialysis through catheters. However, during the same period, the percentage of patients receiving dialysis through fistulas increased from 22% to 33%. The percentage of centers reporting one or more patients infected or colonized with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) increased from 12% in 1995 to 30% in 2002. During 1997-2002, the percentage of patients vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection increased from 47% to 56% and the percentage of staff vaccinated increased from 87% to 90%. In 2002, routine testing for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was performed on patients at 64% of centers; anti-HCV was found in 7.8% of patients. In 2001, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published Recommendations for Preventing Transmission of Infections among Chronic Hemodialysis Patients. Centers were surveyed regarding their awareness of the recommendations and about a variety of infection control practices. In general, the incidence of HBV and HCV was not substantially different for the infection control practices evaluated, including where staff obtain clean supplies for patient treatment, reuse of unused and unopened supplies, and practices for changing external transducer filters/protectors. However, in 2002, the incidence of HBV infection was higher among patients in centers where injectable medications were prepared on a medication cart or medication area located in the treatment area compared to a dedicated medication room. Also, those centers that used a disposable container versus a nondisposable container for priming the dialyzer had a significantly lower incidence of HCV.

Review Articles: Inflammation in End‐stage Renal Disease: Sources, Consequences, and Therapy

Abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although traditional risk factors are common in ESRD patients, they alone may not be sufficient to account for the high prevalence of CVD in this condition. Recent evidence demonstrates that chronic inflammation, a nontraditional risk factor which is commonly observed in ESRD patients, may cause malnutrition and progressive atherosclerotic CVD by several pathogenetic mechanisms. The causes of inflammation in ESRD are multifactorial and, while it may reflect underlying CVD, an acute-phase reaction may also be a direct cause of vascular injury by several pathogenetic mechanisms. Available data suggest that proinflammatory cytokines play a central role in the genesis of both malnutrition and CVD in ESRD. Thus it could be speculated that suppression of the vicious cycle of malnutrition, inflammation, and atherosclerosis (MIA syndrome) would improve survival in dialysis patients. Recent evidence has demonstrated strong associations between inflammation and both increased oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in ESRD patients. As there is not yet any recognized, or even proposed, treatment for ESRD patients with chronic inflammation, it would be of obvious interest to study the long-term effect of various anti-inflammatory treatment strategies on the nutritional and cardiovascular status as well as outcome in these patients.

National Surveillance of Dialysis‐Associated Diseases in the United States, 2000

Abstract: In December 2000, all U.S. dialysis centers were surveyed regarding selected patient care practices and dialysis-associated diseases. The results were compared with similar surveys conducted in previous years. During 1997-2000, the percentage of patients vaccinated against hepatitis B virus infection increased from 47% to 58% and the percentage of staff vaccinated increased from 87% to 88%. In 2000, an estimated 64% of patients were vaccinated for influenza and 27% for pneumococcal pneumonia. In 2000, routine testing for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was performed on staff at 40% of centers and on patients at 58% of centers; anti-HCV was found in 1.7% of staff and 8.4% of patients. During 1995-2000, the percentage of patients who received dialysis through central catheters increased from 13% to 24%; this trend is worrisome because infections and antimicrobial use are higher in patients receiving dialysis through catheters. However, during the same period the percentage of patients receiving dialysis through fistulas increased from 22% to 28%. In 2000, 25% of catheters were used for new patients awaiting an implanted access, 28% for established patients with a failed access awaiting a new implanted access, 41% as an access of last resort, and 6% for other reasons, including patient preference. The percentage of centers reporting one or more patients infected or colonized with vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) increased from 11.5% in 1995 to 32.7% in 2000.

Platelet dysfunction and end-stage renal disease.

Abstract: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) develop hemostatic disorders mainly in the form of bleeding diatheses Hemorrhage can occur at cutaneous, mucosal, or serosal sites Retroperitoneal or intracranial hemorrhages also occur Platelet dysfunction is the main factor responsible for hemorrhagic tendencies in advanced kidney disease Anemia, dialysis, the accumulation of medications due to poor clearance, and anticoagulation used during dialysis have some role in causing impaired hemostasis in ESRD patients Platelet dysfunction occurs both as a result of intrinsic platelet abnormalities and impaired platelet-vessel wall interaction The normal platelet response to vessel wall injury with platelet activation, recruitment, adhesion, and aggregation is defective in advanced renal failure Dialysis may partially correct these defects, but cannot totally eliminate them The hemodialysis process itself may in fact contribute to bleeding Hemodialysis is also associated with thrombosis as a result of chronic platelet activation due to contact with artificial surfaces during dialysis Desmopressin acetate and conjugated estrogen are treatment modalities that can be used for uremic bleeding Achieving a hematocrit of 30% improves bleeding time in ESRD patients