title: [Quality in dialysis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several clinical and laboratory dialysis parameters have been suggested by national and international guidelines. Our study aimed to evaluate a series of quality indicators in the dialytic treatment of a group of patients in our two dialytic centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a population of 159 patients on renal replacement therapy (RDT) we performed a 1-yr prospective observational study, with common parameters to indicate cardiovascular pathologies (PAS, LVMI), calcium-phosphorous metabolism (Ca, PO 4 , Ca x PO 4 ), dialytic adequacy (Kt/V, URR%), nutritional status (nPCR, Alb, K), and anemia (hemoglobin (Hb)). For each parameter we evaluated the mean average with the standard deviation and the score percentages below and above the acceptable range (AR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated a substantial stability, with a gradual improvement, in dialytic adequacy, in anemic status and in PAS. The LVMI, calculated at the beginning and at the end of the period, did not demonstrate any significant changes. No significant changes were observed in the calcium-phosphorous metabolism parameters. Serum albumin and nPCR demonstrated the presence of malnutrition in 15-20% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a more than adequate correlation between the target guidelines and that concerning the dialytic adequacy and the corrected anemic status. The improvement in parameters related to cardiovascular pathology, the risk of ectopic calcifications and malnutrition status, represented an achievable target.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nefrodialitico di Bisceglie, Bari - Italy. papagnisergio@libero.it
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papagni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasqua
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Depalma
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mongelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varvara
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000592:standards*