title: Dialysis in adults in year 2000 in the Republic of Macedonia.
abstract: 1,019 adult patients with terminal renal failure were treated with dialysis (D) in the first part of the year 2000 in the Republic of Macedonia. 1,010 patients (99%) were treated with chronic intermittent (maintenance) hemodialysis (HD) while nine patients (1%) were on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). For the children, a special peritoneal dialysis program was developed; 509 patients per million of the population (PMP) were on dialysis. The Republic of Macedonia is, therefore, among those central and eastern European countries with a higher PMP number in the treatment of end-stage renal disease, following Croatia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. The patients were treated at 18 Centers in a network of HD Centers at a distance of 30-50 km. from their place of residence in order to facilitate their access to treatment and to work. All patients who have had symptoms indicating need for treatment with D were accepted for treatment. The government payed all the expenses of the treatment and the salaries of the staff. 56% were male and 44% were female patients. The youngest patient was aged 9 and the oldest was 82 years old. There has been an increase in the age of the patients on D as well as an increase in their number. In 1993 we had 727 patients being treated with D, and now we have 1,019 with a constant increase in the number of patients with ESRD and a need for D and renal transplantation. Mortality per year at the different Centers ranged from 8-19% in 1999 and the average is 12%. Glomerulonephritis (GN)--both primary and secondary--is the main cause of renal failure (RF) in some Centers up to 45%. Tubulo-interstitial disease follows GN. ADPKD patients constitute 9.4% with a difference among the Centers of 3-29%, and diabetic nephropathy is found in 10%, 5-15% in different Centers. 11-61% of patients have an unknown etiology. 352 patients are on treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin (rhuEPO) - in some Centers up to 60%. The mode of application was subcutaneous and the initial dose is 20 U/kg body weight and the mean maintenance dose of EPO per patient weekly is 4,000 U. The Cimino-Brescia arteriovenous fistula is being applied as a standard vascular access. The survival rate of our patients treated with maintenance HD at 5 years was 58%. CAPD and particularly renal transplantation are to be further developed as alternative methods in treating terminal renal failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Medical Faculty, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. maknefpo@lotus.mpt.com.mk
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Polenakovic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D002648:Child; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D018843:Republic of North Macedonia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin