Device for Patients with ESRD Evaluated
A study published recently in the journal The Lancet describes potential benefits to patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) from a new wearable device that enables hemodialysis. This may offer new treatment options to these patients which appear to improve overall quality of life and, specifically, reduce the amount of time that patients spend in the clinic.
The pilot study was designed as a proof of concept, intended to evaluate the feasibility of dialyzing patients while they complete normal activities of daily living. Eight patients participated in the trial that was completed at the Royal Free and University College Hospital Medical School in London.
The mean age of the participants was 51.7 years and included three women and five men. All had been receiving hemodialysis routinely.
This small trial noted that no patients had clinically significant hemolysis, important cardiovascular changes, or adverse changes to either acid-base or electrolytes. Following a decrease in heparin, two patients did experience clotting of vascular access devices; PTT returned to the normal range. One patient had displacement of the fistula needle.
There were differences noted in mean dialysate and blood flow rates with the new approached compared to conventional dialysis, as well as clearance rates for creatinine and plasma urea. Clearance, overall, was lower with the new device. However, long term data must be collected to validate those very early findings.
December 28, 2007 Related topics: New Technology & Innovation, Renal & Urology