Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Nicholas Hoenich
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
Hemodialysis utilizes large quantities of water for the preparation of dialysis fluid. Such water meets national standards and international standards but a considerable disparity exists between such standards with respect to microbiological purity. This study collated and retrospectively analyzed the impact of upgrading water systems from that specified in the US standards to those specified in European standards on clinical measures associated with inflammation in four metropolitan dialysis units for two periods. Two periods were compared, three months prior to and six months post upgrading the water treatment systems. The monthly total erythropoietin dosage and intravenous iron supplementation for each patient were also compared over these periods. Variables with significant pre-post differences were assessed using multivariate models to control for confounding factors. The results indicated significant increases in hemoglobin, ferritin and TSat (all p < 0.0001) and albumin (p = 0.0001) were associated with improvement in water quality. Decreases in CRP and creatinine (both p < 0.0001) were also noted. These findings suggest that the current regulations in the United States set the microbiological limits of water and dialysis fluid inappropriately high, and the limits should be revised downwards, since such an approach is reflected in improvement in markers of inflammation. © Wichtig Editore, 2004.
Author(s): Rahmati MA, Homel P, Hoenich NA, Levin R, Kaysen GA, Levin NW
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: International Journal of Artificial Organs
Year: 2004
Volume: 27
Issue: 8
Pages: 723-727
ISSN (print): 0391-3988
ISSN (electronic): 1724-6040
Publisher: Wichtig Editore Srl
PubMed id: 15478544
