title: Thrice-weekly in-center nocturnal hemodialysis: an effective strategy to optimize chronic dialysis therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Daily nocturnal hemodialysis (NHD) has been proposed as a valuable strategy to improve outcomes for patients on conventional hemodialysis (CHD), but it is burdened by high costs and logistic issues. Thrice NHD might represent a more affordable approach to improve hemodialysis patient outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here we retrospectively analyzed the data on blood pressure, body weight, and hematochemical parameters in a cohort of 7 patients (mean age 50.4-/+11.0 years, duration of CHD 14.3-/+11.5 years) who registered in the NHD program at the dialysis unit of Ospedali Riuniti, Bergamo, Italy. Data for the 2 first years of NHD were compared with those of the last year on CHD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 2 years after start of NHD, we found a significant decrease in systolic (149.4-/+16.6 vs. 128.4+/-26.0 mm Hg, p<0.001) and diastolic (87.7-/+11.1 vs. 79.6-/+16.7 mm Hg, p<0.05) blood pressure, along with a significant reduction in the use of per-patient antihypertensive agents (1.17-/+1.19 vs. 0.47-/+0.89, p<0.05 and an increase in dry body weight (61.4-/+21.8 vs. 67.1-/+16.4 kg, p<0.001). Moreover, patients had a significant reduction in phosphate levels (6.2-/+2.4 vs. 5.4-/+3.0 mg/dL, p<0.01). The procedure was safe and well tolerated and did not require extra cost for ad hoc facilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NHD is an effective approach to optimize chronic dialysis therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Transplantation, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cravedi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruggenenti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mingardi
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sghirlanzoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Remuzzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D015397:Program Evaluation; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D010710:Phosphates; D002118:Calcium