title: [The wearable artificial kidney: a promise for the future?].
abstract: Portable or wearable dialysis devices could increase treatment flexibility and dialysis patients' independence. Current renal replacement therapies such as intermittent haemodialysis extend life but are a burden, are time-consuming and immobilize patients. An additional disadvantage is the discontinuous nature of the treatment. Peritoneal dialysis is a good alternative, but is associated with relatively limited toxin clearance and a need for high glucose concentrations in the dialysate. Portable dialysis devices could be used as a replacement or to support existing dialysis techniques. At the moment several initiatives, including some started in the Netherlands, aim at the development of a portable device. Some of them are so far into development that they are at a preclinical phase, but as yet none has been approved for regular use in patients. To achieve the ultimate goal, an implantable artificial kidney, a lot of hurdles still have to be surmounted.
authors.affiliation: UMC Utrecht, afd. Nefrologie en hypertensie, Utrecht.
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wester
authors.forename: Karin G F
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Gerritsen
authors.forename: Walther H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Boer
authors.forename: Jaap A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Joles
authors.forename: Jeroen P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kooman
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D005544:Forecasting; D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D007688:Kidneys, Artificial / Q000639:trends; D009426:Netherlands; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions