A hospital-based intermittent nocturnal hemodialysis program for children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To establish a hospital-based nocturnal hemodialysis (NHD) program for children and adolescents.


METHODS
Sixteen patients (age, 0.5 to 17 years) were prospectively included. Uremia-associated measures as well as amount and dosage of medication were enumerated. Quality of life also was evaluated. Results were compared with data of the same patients on conventional hemodialysis and with matched control subjects (conventional HD).


RESULTS
NHD was well tolerated. Median Kt/V values increased. Predialytic mean arterial pressure, urea, phosphate, and parathyroid hormone levels decreased. There was an increase in protein catabolic rate. Dietary and fluid restrictions could be lifted. Amount and dosage of phosphate and potassium binders and antihypertensive medication could be reduced. Quality of life improved and days of absence from school decreased in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to a better control of uremia-associated measures, NHD allows free dietary and fluid intake and improves patient well-being. Given the continuing shortage of donor organs for kidney transplantation and the high morbidity and mortality on conventional HD, intensified dialysis regimens are a much-needed therapeutic option.
Hoppe
Anne
A
Charité, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Berlin, Germany.
von Puttkamer
Christina
C
Linke
Ursula
U
Kahler
Cindy
C
Booss
Martina
M
Braunauer-Kolberg
Renate
R
Hofmann
Katja
K
Joachimsky
Petra
P
Hirte
Ingrid
I
Schley
Sylke
S
Utsch
Boris
B
Thumfart
Julia
J
Briese
Sonia
S
Gellermann
Jutta
J
Zimmering
Miriam
M
Querfeld
Uwe
U
Müller
Dominik
D
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods