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Journal ArticleDOI

Effects of haemoglobin normalization on quality of life and cardiovascular parameters in end‐stage renal failure

01 Sep 2000-Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (Oxford University Press)-Vol. 15, Iss: 9, pp 1425-1430
TL;DR: There may be a significant haemodynamic and symptomatic advantage in maintaining a physiological [Hb] in haemodialysis patients, and a substantially higher dose of epoetin is required to maintain this level.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The optimal haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) for patients with end-stage renal failure is uncertain. In particular, it is unclear whether Hb normalization may be an advantage to such patients who are otherwise well. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind cross-over study was completed in 14 haemodialysis patients (12 male) aged between 23 and 65 years over a period of 18 months, using a variety of measures to examine the effect of epoetin at target [Hb] of 10 g/dl ([Hb](10)) and 14 g/dl ([Hb](14)). Patients were randomized to maintain one or other of the target levels for 6 weeks before being crossed over to the alternative [Hb]. Baseline data (mean [Hb]: 8.5+/-0.2 g/dl) were also included selectively. Six patients were known to be hypertensive. Comparisons were made between 24-h ambulatory blood pressure levels (ABP), echocardiographic findings and estimates of blood volume (BV), plasma volume (PV) and Hb mass. Quality of life estimates were obtained using the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), and epoetin dosage requirements at target [Hb] were assessed. RESULTS: Daytime and nocturnal ABP (systolic and diastolic) were not different at the respective target [Hb], although nocturnal diastolic levels were higher compared with baseline (73+/-4 mmHg) at both [Hb](10) (83+/-3, P:<0.01) and [Hb](14) (81+/-6, P:<0.05). Significant reductions in cardiac output (5.2+/-0.3 vs 6.6+/-0.5 l/min, P:<0.01) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (4.8+/-0.2 vs 5.2+/-0.2 cm, P:<0. 001) were found at [Hb](14) compared with [Hb](10). Left ventricular mass index was correlated with both PV (P:<0.001) and BV (P:<0.01), but not with Hb mass. The PV decreased as the [Hb] rose (P:<0.001) but BV remained unchanged. Quality of life was significantly improved at [Hb](14) compared with [Hb](10) for both total score (6. 5+/-1.7 vs 13.4+/-3.0, P:=0.01) and psychosocial dimension score (5. 4+/-1.9 vs 15.4+/-4.0, P:<0.01). The maintenance weekly dose of epoetin required was 80% higher at [Hb](14) compared with [Hb](10) (P:<0.001). CONCLUSION: These data suggest there may be a significant haemodynamic and symptomatic advantage in maintaining a physiological [Hb] in haemodialysis patients. Although untoward effects were not identified in this study at [Hb](14), a substantially higher dose of epoetin is required to maintain this level.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There is little to support normalization of hemoglobin in the chronic kidney disease population, and randomized control trials fail to show a benefit of normalized hemoglobin, and anemia therapy does improve quality of life.
Abstract: Purpose of reviewAnemia is a well recognized complication of chronic kidney disease and is associated with significant morbidity. It is important for clinical care to identify appropriate treatments and targets for hemoglobin. This review describes current understandings of the treatment of anemia u

19 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: While the majority of patients with CKD may experience significant benefits when Hb is normalized, it seems prudent to recommend individualized target Hb concentrations for each patient, taking into account factors such as age, sex, employment status, physical activity, and co-morbidities.

19 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence suggests that an individualized and flexible approach to target Hb values, epoetin beta route and frequency of administration, and patient education/management programmes may be beneficial to patients with ESRD.
Abstract: Evidence suggests that an individualized and flexible approach may be beneficial to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. This article discusses this approach in relation to three issues: target haemoglobin (Hb) level, epoetin dosing frequency administration and patient management education programmes. Trial data indicate that each patient's condition should be taken into account when assigning target Hb values. Normalization of Hb is unlikely to be protective in patients with well-established cardiac disease. However, in patients without severe cardiac conditions, normalization is associated with benefits, such as reduction of cardiovascular risk factors and improved quality of life. Data are awaited from trials examining the impact of anaemia correction in patients not yet on renal replacement therapy (RRT). Two large, randomized controlled trials of haemodialysis patients have demonstrated that once-weekly epoetin β is as effective and as well tolerated as administration two or three times weekly. Additionally, one of these trials showed that once-weekly and three times weekly administrations were equivalent therapeutically in terms of maintaining both stable haematocrit levels and epoetin β dose requirements. These results suggest that the epoetin β route and frequency of administration can be individualized according to patient physician preference. Renal management programmes. which incorporate a multidisciplinary team approach, strategies for early referral of patients and patient education, have an impact on patient outcomes and on RRT modality choice. An individualized programme will help to optimize the use of treatments aimed at delaying the progression of renal failure and its co-morbidities. In conclusion, evidence suggests that an individualized and flexible approach to target Hb values, epoetin β route and frequency of administration, and patient education management programmes may be beneficial to patients with ESRD. As early intervention has an impact on patient outcome and the progression of risk factors, this approach may also be appropriate for patients who are not yet receiving RRT.

16 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used recombinant erythropoietin to correct anemia in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients, and found that anemic CHF patients may have improved morbidity with this therapy.

16 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, anemia is a risk factor for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and dilatation, heart failure, and death in chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Abstract: Left ventricular (LV) volume and pressure overload occur frequently in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Anemia is a risk factor for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and dilatation, heart failure, and death. Normalization of hemoglobin with erythropoietin may prevent LVH and dilatation in CKD, but in patients in later phases of their cardiac disease, this intervention is not of benefit. Increased vascular volume causes hypertension, which in turn causes LVH, cardiac failure, and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Manifestations of arteriosclerosis are associated with adverse cardiac outcomes, and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may improve LVH and markers of arteriosclerosis. Aortic stenosis in dialysis patients occurs infrequently, but may deteriorate rapidly. The hemodialysis milieu is the quintessential model of LV overload cardiomyopathy.

16 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), a behaviorally based measure of health status, and evaluated its reliability and validity using multitrait-multimethod technique.
Abstract: The final development of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), a behaviorally based measure of health status, is presented. A large field trial on a random sample of prepaid group practice enrollees and smaller trials on samples of patients with hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis and hip replacements were undertaken to assess reliability and validity of the SIP and provide data for category and item analyses. Test-retest reliability (r = 0.92) and internal consistency (r - 0.94) were high. Convergent and discriminant validity was evaluated using the multitrait--multimethod technique. Clinical validity was assessed by determining the relationship between clinical measures of disease and the SIP scores. The relationship between the SIP and criterion measures were moderate to high and in the direction hypothesized. A technique for describing and assessing similarities and differences among groups was developed using profile and pattern analysis. The final SIP contains 136 items in 12 categories. Overall, category, and dimension scores may be calculated.

4,283 citations

Book
01 Feb 1994
TL;DR: In this paper, the principles of exercise testing and interpretation are presented for exercise testing in the Libros de Medicina (Patologia) 5/e - Patologia - 139,00
Abstract: Principles of Exercise Testing and Interpretation, 5/e - Libros de Medicina - Patologia - 139,00

2,331 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In patients with clinically evident congestive heart failure or ischemic heart disease who are receiving hemodialysis, administration of epoetin to raise their hematocrit to 42 percent is not recommended.
Abstract: Background In patients with end-stage renal disease, anemia develops as a result of erythropoietin deficiency, and recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin) is prescribed to correct the anemia partially. We examined the risks and benefits of normalizing the hematocrit in patients with cardiac disease who were undergoing hemodialysis. Methods We studied 1233 patients with clinical evidence of congestive heart failure or ischemic heart disease who were undergoing hemodialysis: 618 patients were assigned to receive increasing doses of epoetin to achieve and maintain a hematocrit of 42 percent, and 615 were assigned to receive doses of epoetin sufficient to maintain a hematocrit of 30 percent throughout the study. The median duration of treatment was 14 months. The primary end point was the length of time to death or a first nonfatal myocardial infarction. Results After 29 months, there were 183 deaths and 19 first nonfatal myocardial infarctions among the patients in the normal-hematocrit group and 150 deat...

1,944 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that clinical and echocardiographic cardiovascular disease are already present in a very high proportion of patients starting ESRD therapy and are independent mortality factors.

1,255 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Overstretching appears to be coupled with oxidant stress, expression of Fas, programmed cell death, architectural rearrangement of myocytes, and impairment in force development of the myocardium.
Abstract: To determine the effects of loading on active and passive tensions, programmed cell death, superoxide anion formation, the expression of Fas on myocytes, and side-to-side slippage of myocytes, papillary muscles were exposed to 7-8 and 50 mN/mm2 and these parameters were measured over a 3-h period. Overstretching produced a 21- and a 2.4-fold increase in apoptotic myocyte and nonmyocyte cell death, respectively. Concurrently, the generation of reactive oxygen species increased 2.4-fold and the number of myocytes labeled by Fas protein 21-fold. Moreover, a 15% decrease in the number of myocytes included in the thickness of the papillary muscle was found in combination with a 7% decrease in sarcomere length and the inability of muscles to maintain stable levels of passive and active tensions. The addition of the NO-releasing drug, C87-3754, prevented superoxide anion formation, programmed cell death, and the alterations in active and passive tensions with time of overloaded papillary muscles. In conclusion, overstretching appears to be coupled with oxidant stress, expression of Fas, programmed cell death, architectural rearrangement of myocytes, and impairment in force development of the myocardium.

642 citations

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