title: Access thrombosis, hospitalization, and hematocrit level in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: Are occurrences of vascular access thrombosis and hospitalization higher in hemodialysis patients with hematocrits (Hcts) > 36% compared to those < 36%? This 12-month retrospective study included 30 male hemodialysis patients who received erythropoietin (rHuEPO) for at least 6 months. Sixty percent (n = 18) had arteriovenous fistulas and 40% (n = 12) had polytetrafluoroethylene grafts. The mean age was 59.6 years. Twenty patients during 216 patient months had a mean Hct < 36% with five thromboses (2.3%). Ten patients during 118 patient months had a mean Hct > 36% with four thromboses (3.4%). There was no statistically significant difference between the thrombosis rates in the two groups. There were four hospitalizations in 118 patient months in the > 36% group (3.4%). There were 33 hospitalizations in 216 patient months in the < 36% group (15.3%). This is 4.5 times higher than the > 36% group. Our data suggest that Hcts > 36% are not associated with increased thrombosis and are associated with lower hospitalization rates.
authors.affiliation: Nashville VAMC Dialysis Unit, USA.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Heard
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004868:Equipment Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular; D006400:Hematocrit; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000009:adverse effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013714:Tennessee / Q000453:epidemiology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014654:Vascular Patency
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene