title: Effect of N-acetylcysteine on residual renal function in chronic haemodialysis patients treated with high-flux synthetic dialysis membranes: a pilot study.
abstract: Background. Preservation of residual renal function in chronic dialysis patients has proven to be a major predictor of survival. The aim of the present study was to investigate an ability of the combined use of N-acetylcysteine and high-flux biocompatible haemodialysis membranes to improve residual renal function in haemodialysis patients. Patients and Methods. Chronic haemodialysis patients with a residual urine output of at least 100 mL/24 h were administered oral an N-acetylcysteine 1200 mg twice daily for 2 weeks. Treatment group included patients treated with dialysers using high-flux synthetic biocompatible membranes. Control group included patients treated with dialysers using low-flux semisyntetic triacetate haemodialysis membranes. Results. Eighteen patients participated in the study. The residual glomerular filtration rate showed a nonsignificant trend for increase in both groups. The magnitude of GFR improvement after N-acetylcysteine administration was less pronounced in the group treated with high-flux biocompatible membranes: +0.17 ± 0.56 mL/min/1.73 m(2) in treatment group and +0.65 ± 0.53 mL/min/1.73 m(2) in control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion. In this study of favorable effect of N-acetylcysteine on residual renal function in chronic haemodialysis patients may be less pronounced when using high-flux biocompatible, rather than low-flux semisyntetic, HD membranes.
authors: Nephrology Division and Research & Development Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel ; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors: Leonid
authors: L
authors: Feldman
authors: Nephrology Division and Research & Development Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel.
authors: Ramzia
authors: R
authors: Abu Hamad
authors: Nephrology Division and Research & Development Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel ; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors: Shai
authors: S
authors: Efrati
authors: Nephrology Division and Research & Development Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Ashker
authors: Nephrology Division and Research & Development Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel ; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors: Ilia
authors: I
authors: Beberashvili
authors: Family Medicine Department, Clalit Health Services and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 97904, Israel.
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Shani