title: Zaleplon improves sleep quality in maintenance hemodialysis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A recent survey has shown that insomnia is still a very common problem in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. The aim of the present study was to test the effects of zaleplon (ZAL), a new nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic drug, on the sleep quality of MHD patients with insomnia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh questionnaire in 10 patients (6 males/4 females) with insomnia on MHD; these patients underwent a randomized double-blind crossover study versus placebo (PLA). The main exclusion criterion was the presence of any possible cause of insomnia related to other concurrent diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with ZAL significantly improved the total score of sleep quality (p < 0.03 vs. PLA). The analysis of the single components revealed that treatment with ZAL was associated with a higher subjective sleep quality (p < 0.01 vs. PLA) and a reduced sleep latency (p < 0.01 vs. PLA). The duration of sleep was not modified by ZAL, whereas a significant improvement was detected in habitual sleep efficacy (p < 0.05 vs. PLA). No peculiar side effect was recorded on ZAL. Blood parameters did not change, nor were differences recorded in the dialysis parameters (body weight gain, blood pressure) throughout the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that ZAL has a positive effect on the sleep quality in MHD patients. The absence of side effects and its pharmacodynamic properties make ZAL a useful drug in uremic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University Federico II, Naples, Italy. sabbatin@unina.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabbatini
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crispo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ragosta
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cesaro
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mirenghi
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cianciaruso
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Federico
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014511:Uremia / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011743:Pyrimidines; C085665:zaleplon