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Background: Symptoms of anxiety are often unrecognized and untreated in dialysis patients. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of two widely used screening tools for anxiety in hemodialysis patients. Methods: For this cross-sectional validation study, chronic hemodialysis patients from eight dialysis centers in the Netherlands were included. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale—Anxiety subscale (HADS-A) were validated by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Inventory (MINI) diagnostic interview. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the optimal cut-off values. Results: Of 65 participants, 13 (20%) were diagnosed with one or more anxiety disorders on the MINI, of which 5 were included in the analysis. ROC curves showed a good diagnostic accuracy of the BAI and HADS-A. The optimal cut-off value for the BAI was ≥13 (sensitivity 100%, specificity 85%) and for the HADS-A was ≥10 (sensitivity 80%, specificity 100%). Conclusions: Based on our limited data, both the BAI and the HADS-A seem to be valid screening instruments for anxiety in hemodialysis patients that can be used in routine dialysis care. The HADS-A consists of fewer items and showed fewer false-positive results than the BAI, which might make it more useful in clinical practice.

Objective: To investigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on mental health in hemodialysis patients, we assessed depression, anxiety and quality of life with valid mental health measures before and after the start of the pandemic. Methods: Data were used from 121 hemodialysis patients from the ongoing prospective multicenter DIVERS-II study. COVID-19 related stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale – 10, depression with the Beck Depression Inventory – second edition (BDI-II)), anxiety with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and quality of life with the Short Form – 12 (SF-12). Scores during the first and second COVID-19 wave in the Netherlands were compared to data prior to the pandemic with linear mixed models. Results: No significant differences were found in BDI-II, BAI and SF-12 scores between before and during the pandemic. During the first wave, 33% of participants reported COVID-19 related stress and in the second wave 37%. These patients had higher stress levels (mean difference (MD) 4.7 (95%CI 1.5; 8.0), p = 0.005) and BDI-II scores (MD 4.9 (95%CI 0.7; 9.0), p = 0.021) and lower SF-12 mental component summary scores (MD -5.3 (95%CI -9.0, −1.6), p = 0.006) than patients who did not experienced COVID-19 stress. These differences were already present before the pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic does not seem to influence mental health in hemodialysis patients. However, a substantial subgroup of patients with pre-existent mental health problems may be more susceptible to experience COVID-19 related stress.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a guided internet-based self-help intervention for hemodialysis patients with depressive symptoms. Method: Chronic hemodialysis patients from nine Dutch hospitals with a depression score on the Beck Depression Inventory – second edition (BDI-II) of ≥10, were cluster-randomized into a five modules guided internet-based self-help problem solving therapy intervention or a parallel care-as-usual control group. Clusters were based on hemodialysis shift. The primary outcome depression was measured with the BDI-II. Analysis was performed with linear mixed models. Results: A total of 190 hemodialysis patients were cluster-randomized to the intervention (n = 89) or control group (n = 101). Post-intervention measurement was completed by 127 patients (67%) and more than half of the patients (54%) completed the intervention. No significant differences were found on the BDI-II score between the groups (mean difference − 0.1, 95%CI -3.0; 2.7, p = 0.94). Per protocol sensitivity analysis showed comparable results. No significant differences in secondary outcomes were observed between groups. Conclusions: Guided internet-based self-help problem solving therapy for hemodialysis patients with depressive symptoms does not seem to be effective in reducing these symptoms as compared to usual care. Future research should examine how to best design content and accessibility of an intervention for depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients. Trial registration: Dutch Trial Register: Trial NL6648 (NTR6834) (prospectively registered 13th November 2017).

BackgroundLong-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) is frequently complicated by technique failure preceded by peritoneal remodeling. Vitamin D has potent immunomodulatory characteristics: anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, anti-fibrotic properties, and influences on the macrophage phenotype. Little is known about the relation between pleiotropic effects attributed to vitamin D3and the peritoneal membrane and what is the most appropriate vitamin D sterol in prevention of peritoneal remodeling in PD patients. Animal studies have suggested that paricalcitol has advantageous effects: decrease in plasma markers of inflammation, less peritoneal fibrosis, less pronounced PD-induced omental angiogenesis, and prevention of loss of ultrafiltration. We investigated whether paricalcitol is advantageous over calcitriol in PD patients.MethodA multicenter open-label 1:1 randomized non-blinded clinical pilot study enrolled prevalent continous ambulatory PD (CAPD) patients for a period of 6 months comparing paricalcitol with calcitriol. All patients were treated with biocompatible PD fluids. The primary endpoint was peritoneal transport parameters, exploratory endpoints were biomarkers of peritoneal damage and cell analysis (including M1/M2 macrophages), and safety endpoints were metabolic parameters.ResultsTwenty-seven patients were included. Fourteen were randomized to treatment with paricalcitol. There was no difference in peritoneal transport parameters between the groups. We found similar Kt/V, D/P creatinine, D/D0 glucose, ultrafiltration, residual renal function and 24-h urine volume during the study. There was no difference in biomarker concentrations in peritoneal effluents, and no difference in leucocyte differentiation or mesothelial cells between the groups at any time point. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels decreased after administration of calcitriol after 12 and 24 weeks compared with baseline ( p = 0.001; p = 0.025). Parathyroid hormone levels in the paricalcitol group did not change significantly.ConclusionIn this pilot study we investigated the effect of active vitamin D in PD patients. We found no specific benefit of active vitamin D3in vitamin D3-sufficient PD patients. Additional studies in preferably incident patients, with an adequate PTH suppression in the intervention groups and during a longer period, are required to test the beneficial effects of active vitamin D3over no treatment and to investigate whether in 25(OH)D3-deficient PD patients the type of active vitamin D3matters.

BackgroundThe use of pH-neutral peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids low in glucose degradation products (GDP) may better preserve the peritoneal membrane and have fewer systemic effects. The effects of conversion from conventional to neutral-pH, low-GDP PD fluids in prevalent patients are unclear. Few studies on the role of neutral-pH, low-GDP PD have studied residual renal function, ultrafiltration, peritonitis incidence and technique failure, transport characteristics, and local and systemic markers of inflammation in prevalent PD patients.MethodsIn a multi-center open-label randomized clinical trial (RCT), we randomly assigned 40 of 78 stable continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) and automated PD (APD) patients to treatment with bicarbonate/lactate, neutral-pH, low-GDP PD fluid (Physioneal; Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL, USA) and compared them with 38 patients continuing their current standard lactate-buffered PD fluid (PDF) (Dianeal; Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL, USA) during 2 years. Primary outcome was residual renal function (RRF) and ultrafiltration (UF) during peritoneal equilibration test (PET); peritonitis incidence was a secondary outcome. Furthermore, clinical parameters as well as several biomarkers in effluents and serum were measured.ResultsDuring follow-up, RRF did not differ between the groups. In the Physioneal group ultrafiltration (UF) during PET remained more or less stable (-20 mL [confidence interval (CI): -163.5 – 123.5 mL]; p = 0.7 over 24 months), whereas it declined in the Dianeal group (-243 mL [CI: -376.6 to -109.4 mL]; p < 0.0001 over 24 months), resulting in a difference of 233.7 mL [95% CI 41.0 – 425.5 mL]; p = 0.017 between the groups at 24 months. The peritonitis rate was lower in the Physioneal group: adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.38 (0.15 – 0.97) p = 0.043. No differences were observed between the 2 groups in peritoneal adequacy or transport characteristics nor effluent markers of local inflammation (cancer antigen [CA]125, hyaluronan [HA], vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], macrophage chemo-attractant protein [MCP]-1, HA and transforming growth factor [TGF]β–1).ConclusionIn prevalent PD patients, our study did not find a difference in RRF after conversion from conventional to neutral-pH, low-GDP PD fluids, although there is a possibility that the study was underpowered to detect a difference. Decline in UF during standardized PET was lower after 2 years in the Physioneal group.

Background: Chronic exposure to peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluid is associated with development of functional and structural alterations of the peritoneal membrane. The exact time point at which these changes actually occur is not known. Whether changes to the peritoneum occur immediately after installation of PD fluids and whether there is a difference between neutral-pH, low glucose degradation product (low-GDP) PD fluids and conventional PD fluids is not known either. Materials and methods: We performed an observational study. Markers related to inflammation, fibrosis, mesothelial activation, and cytokines/growth factors were measured in effluents immediately after PD-catheter insertion and during the first days and weeks of PD treatment in patients using either dianeal ® or physioneal®. Results: Peritoneal response was observed instantly upon insertion of the PD catheter and instillation of PD fluids and persisted during daily PD therapy. Particularly during the first contacts of the peritoneum with PD fluids, high levels of cytokines and biomarkers were observed. In general, CA125 is slightly higher with dianeal. There is no difference between the fluids in hyaluronic acid (HA), IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, VEGF, and TGFβ-1 levels. Conclusion: Implantation of the Tenckhoff catheter and installation of PD fluids induce inflammation, which in the first days resembles an acute inflammatory response. More continuous infusion of PD fluids further enhances peritoneal inflammation. The use of the bicarbonate/ lactate-buffered, neutral-pH, low-GDP PD fluid physioneal exerts lower CA125 levels, lower D/P4 creatinine, but similar inflammatory response compared to conventional dianeal PD fluids in this early stage of PD therapy.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is associated with functional and structural changes of the peritoneal membrane, also known as peritoneal remodeling. The peritoneal membrane is affected by many endogenous and exogenous factors such as cytokines, PD fluids, and therapeutic interventions. Here, we present an overview of various studies that have investigated pharmacologic interventions aimed at regression of peritoneal damage and prolongation of PD treatment.

The most important challenge in peritoneal dialysis (PD) is long-term preservation of peritoneal membrane structure and function. Introduction of dialysis fluids into the peritoneal cavity induces changes. These changes are related to duration of dialysis, occurrence of peritonitis and components of the dialysis solution. Bioincompatibility is considered to be the major cause of the development of morphological changes of the peritoneal membrane. pH neutral PD fluids that are low in glucose degradation products (GDP) seem to better preserve the peritoneal membrane and have less systemic effects than the conventional ones. However, the long-term effects are not clear. An overview of the effects of conventional PD fluids and glucose-based PD fluids with neutral pH in ex vivo and in vivo animal and clinical studies is presented.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is associated with structural and functional alterations of the peritoneal membrane, consisting of fibrosis, angiogenesis, and loss of ultrafiltration capacity. Vitamin D receptor activation (VDRA) plays an important role in mineral metabolism and inflammation, but also antiangiogenic and antifibrotic properties have been reported. Therefore, the effects of active vitamin D treatment on peritoneal function and remodeling were investigated. Rats were either kept naïve to PDF exposure or daily exposed to 10 mL PDF and were treated for five or seven weeks with oral paricalcitol or vehicle control. Non-PDF-exposed rats showed no peritoneal changes upon paricalcitol treatment. Paricalcitol reduced endogenous calcitriol but did not affect mineral homeostasis. However, upon PDF exposure, loss of ultrafiltration capacity ensued which was fully rescued by paricalcitol treatment. Furthermore, PD-induced ECM thickening was significantly reduced and omental PD-induced angiogenesis was less pronounced upon paricalcitol treatment. No effect of paricalcitol treatment on total amount of peritoneal cells, peritoneal leukocyte composition, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) was observed. Our data indicates that oral VDRA reduces tissue remodeling during chronic experimental PD and prevents loss of ultrafiltration capacity. Therefore, VDRA is potentially relevant in the prevention of treatment technique failure in PD patients.

Initiation of peritoneal dialysis (PD) induces several changes both locally in the peritoneum and systemically. We performed a pilot study to generate insights into the early clinical and systemic changes after catheter insertion and the first weeks of PD. The study included 11 new PD patients (7 men, 4 women). The study period started just before implantation of the Tenckhoff catheter and finished 6 weeks after the start of PD. All patients were treated with lactate-buffered dialysis solutions. Clinical parameters, routine laboratory tests and markers of systemic inflammation were determined. The mean (+/- standard deviation) age of the patients was 52.6 +/- 12.1 years, mean weight was 81.3 +/- 14.7 kg, and mean blood pressure was 143.3/ 87.8 +/- 18.5/8.2 mmHg. Weight and blood pressure did not change significantly during the first weeks of PD. Throughout the study, 24-hour urine production declined by 6.9 mL/day (p = 0.006). Daily residual creatinine clearance (CCr) decreased by 0.036 mL/min (p = 0.008). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was significantly higher in patients who had undergone hemodialysis before the start of the study (p0. 0001) and declined during the study in that group (p = 0.001). No significant change in hs-CRP was found in the group that started dialysis with PD. In this pilot study, we found no significant changes in the clinical parameters of weight and blood pressure during the first weeks of PD. However, urine production and residual CCr declined significantly during the study period, starting from the moment of catheter insertion. Levels of the systemic inflammatory marker hs-CRP were higher in patients who had previously undergone hemodialysis; its level in those patients decreased after hemodialysis ended.