title: When to start dialysis?
abstract: In an attempt to decrease mortality in dialysis patients, the care for end-stage renal disease patients has been a focus of nephrologists for many years. Good pre-dialysis care has been found to improve mortality numbers in several studies. However, it is still not exactly clear, when the best moment has arrived to start renal replacement therapy. By illustrating two totally different patient cases the effect of outcome and quality of life are discussed-demonstrating on the one hand the role of clinical parameters, and on the other hand the influence of biochemical parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ce.douma@vumc.nl
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Douma
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Smit
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine