Prevalence, determinants and prognosis of pulmonary hypertension among hemodialysis patients. Agarwal Rajiv Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association BACKGROUND:The prevalence, determinants and prognosis of pulmonary hypertension among long-term hemodialysis patients in the USA are poorly understood. METHODS:A cross-sectional survey of prevalence and determinants of pulmonary hypertension was performed, followed by longitudinal follow-up for all-cause mortality. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as an estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure of >35 mmHg using echocardiograms performed within an hour after the end of dialysis. RESULTS:Prevalent in 110/288 patients (38%), the independent determinants of pulmonary hypertension were the following: left atrial diameter (odds ratio 10.1 per cm/m(2), P < 0.0001), urea reduction ratio (odds ratio 0.94 per %, P < 0.01) and vitamin D receptor activator use (odds ratio 0.41 for users, P < 0.01). Over a median follow-up of 2.15 years, 97 (34%) patients died yielding a crude mortality rate (CMR) of 114.2 per 1000 patient-years. Of these, 58 deaths occurred among 110 patients with pulmonary hypertension (53%, CMR 168.9/1000 patient-years) and 39 among 178 without pulmonary hypertension (22%, CMR 52.5/1000 patient-years) [unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) for death 2.12 (95% confidence interval 1.41-3.19), P < 0.001]. After multivariate adjustment, pulmonary hypertension remained an independent predictor for all-cause mortality [HR 2.17 (95% confidence interval 1.31-3.61), P < 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS:Among hemodialysis patients, pulmonary hypertension is common and is strongly associated with an enlarged left atrium and poor long-term survival. Reducing left atrial size such as through volume control may be an attractive target to improve pulmonary hypertension. Improving pulmonary hypertension in this group of patients may improve the dismal outcomes. 10.1093/ndt/gfr661

Impact of Hybrid Therapy Comprising Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis on Acute Cardiovascular Events. Banshodani Masataka,Kawanishi Hideki,Moriishi Misaki,Shintaku Sadanori,Tsuchiya Shinichiro Blood purification BACKGROUND:The impact of hybrid therapy comprising peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis on cardiovascular events in PD patients remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:We aimed to evaluate the effect of hybrid therapy on cardiovascular events. METHODS:A total of 93 PD patients undergoing hybrid therapy for ≥3 years were divided into 2 groups according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): lower ejection fraction (LEF [n = 29], LVEF < 60%) and normal ejection fraction (NEF [n = 64], LVEF ≥60%). Hospitalization rates and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated. RESULTS:The 1-year hospitalization rate for acute cardiovascular events decreased after the therapy initiation in both groups (LEF: 0.36-0.11, p = 0.02 and NEF: 0.43-0.06, p < 0.001). In generalized linear mixed models, LVEF (44 ± 15%) improved at 1, 2, and 3 years after initiation (53 ± 18, 55 ± 17, and 58 ± 7%; p < 0.05) in the LEF group, whereas, in the NEF group, LVEF (68 ± 5%) was maintained at 1, 2, and 3 years after initiation (67 ± 8, 67 ± 9, and 68 ± 9%; p > 0.05). Mitral inflow E velocity to tissue Doppler e' ratio was maintained at the same level at 1-3 years after initiation in both groups. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI; 189 ± 41 g/m2) was decreased at 1 (178 ± 35 g/m2; p = 0.8), 2 (160 ± 45 g/m2; p = 0.008), and 3 (166 ± 47 g/m2; p = 0.05) years after initiation in the LEF group, whereas in the NEF group, LVMI (157 ± 45 g/m2) was maintained at 1, 2, and 3 years after initiation (153 ± 40, 155 ± 54, and 158 ± 52 g/m2; p > 0.05). CONCLUSION:Hybrid therapy decreased acute cardiovascular events and improved systolic cardiac function in PD patients in the LEF group. 10.1159/000495357