title: A hospital-based intermittent nocturnal hemodialysis program for children and adolescents.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Charité, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoppe
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Puttkamer
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Linke
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kahler
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Booss
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braunauer-Kolberg
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joachimsky
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hirte
authors.forename: Sylke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schley
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Utsch
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thumfart
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Briese
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gellermann
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimmering
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Querfeld
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: 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