Comparative hospitalization of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients in Canada

BACKGROUND: Most comparisons of hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) have used mortality as an outcome. Relatively few studies have directly compared the hospitalization rates, an outcome of perhaps equal importance, of patients using these different dialysis modalities. METHODS: Eight hundred twenty-two consecutive patients at 11 Canadian institutions with irreversible renal failure had an extensive assessment of comorbid illness and initial mode of dialysis collected prospectively immediately prior to starting dialysis therapy. The cohort was assembled between March 1993 and November 1994. The mean follow-up was 24 months. Admission data were used to compare hospitalization rates in HD and PD. RESULTS: Thirty-four percent of patients at baseline and 50% at three months used PD. Twenty-five percent of HD and 32% of PD patients switched dialysis modality at least once after their first treatment (P = NS). Nine percent of HD patients and 30% of PD patients switched modality after three months (P < 0. 001). Total comorbidity was higher in HD patients at baseline (P < 0. 001) and at three months (P = 0.001). The overall hospitalization rate was 40.2 days per 1000 patient days after baseline and 38.0 days per 1000 patient days after three months. When an adjustment was made for baseline comorbid conditions, patients on PD had a lower rate of hospitalization in intention-to-treat analysis according to the type of dialysis in use at baseline (RR 0.85, 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.87, P < 0.001), but a higher rate according to the type of dialysis in use three months after study entry (RR 1.31, 95% CI, 1.27 to 1.34, P < 0.001). In analyses based on the amount of time actually spent on each treatment modality, PD was associated with a higher rate of hospitalization when analyzed according to the type of dialysis in use at baseline (RR 1.10, 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.13, P < 0.001) and according to the type of dialysis in use three months after study entry (RR 1.26, 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.30, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions regarding comparative hospitalization rates are heavily dependent on the analytic starting point and on whether intention-to-treat or treatment-received analyses are used. When early treatment switches are accounted for, HD is associated with a lower rate of hospitalization than PD, but the effect is modest.     

Patient mortality in chronic dialysis: comparisons between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis

Patients with approaching end-stage renal disease often must choose between hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis as the initial form of renal replacement therapy. Should nephrologists recommend one form of dialysis as superior to the other? This review focuses on studies that compared patient mortality for these two dialysis techniques. Explanations for the disparate findings of these studies will be put forth. Finally, suggestions regarding what we can recommend to patients are made.     

Comparison of cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis

International Urology and Nephrology - Cardiovascular disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients. With the increasing prevalence of dialysis patients, there is a...     

The differential impact of risk factors on mortality in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND: While the survival ramifications of dialysis modality selection are still debated, it seems reasonable to postulate that outcome comparisons are not the same for all patients at all times. Trends in available data indicate the relative risk of death with hemodialysis (HD) compared to peritoneal dialysis (PD) varies by time on dialysis and the presence of various risk factors. This study was undertaken to identify key patient characteristics for which the risk of death differs by dialysis modality. METHODS: Analyses utilized incidence data from 398,940 United States Medicare patients initiating dialysis between 1995 and 2000. Proportional hazards regression identified the presence of diabetes, age, and the presence of comorbidity as factors that significantly interact with treatment modality. Stratifying by these factors, proportional and nonproportional hazards models were used to estimate relative risks of death [RR (HD:PD)]. RESULTS: Of the 398,940 patients studied, 11.6% used PD as initial therapy, 45% had diabetes mellitus (DM), 51% were 65 years or older, and 55% had at least one comorbidity. Among the 178,693 (45%) patients with no baseline comorbidity, adjusted mortality rates in nondiabetic (non-DM) patients were significantly higher on HD than on PD [age 18-44: RR (95% CI) = 1.24 (1.07, 1.44); age 45-64: RR = 1.13 (1.02, 1.25); age 65+: RR = 1.13 (1.05, 1.21)]. Among diabetic (DM) patients with no comorbidity, HD was associated with a higher risk of death among younger patients [age 18-44: RR = 1.22(1.05, 1.42)] and a lower risk of death among older patients [age 45-64: RR = 0.92 (0.85, 1.00); age 65+: RR = 0.86 (0.79, 0.93)]. Within the group of 220,247 (55%) patients with baseline comorbidity, adjusted mortality rates were not different between HD and PD among non-DM patients [age 18-44: RR = 1.19 (0.94, 1.50); age 45-64: RR = 1.01 (0.92, 1.11); age 65+: RR = 0.96 (0.91, 1.01)] and younger DM patients [age 18-44: RR = 1.10 (0.92, 1.32)], but were lower with HD among older DM patients with baseline comorbidity [age 45-64: RR = 0.82 (0.77, 0.87); age 65+: RR = 0.80 (0.76, 0.85)]. CONCLUSION: Valid mortality comparisons between HD and PD require patient stratification according to major risk factors known to interact with treatment modality. Survival differences between HD and PD are not constant, but vary substantially according to the underlying cause of ESRD, age, and level of baseline comorbidity. These results may help identify technical advances that will improve outcomes of patients on dialysis.     

COVID-19: mortality rates of patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis

Objective

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection might have a higher mortality rate in patients with end-stage renal disease due to immunosuppression. This study investigates the mortality rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the factors affecting mortality among patients who were on maintenance hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Materials and methods

A total of 200 patients, including 157 maintenance hemodialysis and 43 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients followed in our hospital, were included in the study. The patients' sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, history of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the previous year, death event, source of death (SARS-CoV-2 or not), presence of hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, need for intensive care unit, need for ventilatory support in intensive care unit were obtained from the clinical file records.

Results

85 of the 200 patients had a history of SARS-Cov-2 infection during the last 12 months. Forty-two (49.5%) patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were hospitalized. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 had longer dialysis time, increased mortality, and significantly higher comorbidities such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure. Besides, heart failure and hypertension were the determining factors in the risk factor analysis for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In dialysis patients, the mortality rate in the last year, due to all causes, including SARS-CoV-2 infection, was 23% while the mortality rate due to "SARS-CoV-2 infection only" was 13%) (p > 0.05). Our findings are important in guiding clinical decision-making and informing the public and health authorities about the risk of death associated with COVID-19 in this patient group.

     

Trends in mortality on peritoneal dialysis: Canada, 1981-1997

Several technical and nontechnical improvements in peritoneal dialysis (PD) have occurred during recent years. Since few previous studies have examined trends in PD mortality over time, and to determine whether enhancements in PD have translated into improved patient outcomes, mortality rates among the 17,900 patients receiving PD in Canada during the period 1981-1997 were analyzed. Mortality rate ratios (RR) were estimated using Poisson regression, adjusting for age, race, gender, primary renal diagnosis, follow-up time, and type of PD (continuous ambulatory/cyclic versus intermittent). Adjusted mortality rates decreased significantly by calendar period, the reduction being monotonic: RR = 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 to 0.87 for 1986-1989; RR = 0.73, 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.78 for 1990-1993; RR = 0.63, 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.67 for 1994-1997, with 1981-1985 serving as the reference period (RR = 1, fixed). The improvement in mortality was fairly consistent across patient subpopulations. When analyzed separately by follow-up time window, the mortality decrease was strongest in the first 12 mo after renal replacement therapy initiation. Supplementary analysis revealed that the trend in mortality rates was not attributable to corresponding trends in transplantation or technique failure rates, or modality switching patterns. Results were quite similar whether based on an "as-treated" or "intent-to-treat" analysis. More extensive data on practice patterns would empower future studies to elucidate the cause/effect relationship between PD practice patterns and patient survival.     

An update on the comparisons of mortality outcomes of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients

The number of dialysis patients continues to grow. In many parts of the world, peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a less expensive form of treatment. However, it has been questioned whether patients treated with PD can have as good a long-term outcome as that achieved with hemodialysis (HD). This skepticism has fueled ongoing comparisons of outcomes of patients treated with in-center HD and PD using data from national registries or prospective cohort studies. There are major challenges in comparing outcomes with two therapies when the treatment assignment is nonrandom. Furthermore, many of the intermodality comparisons include patients who started dialysis therapy in the 1990s. In many parts of the world, improvements in PD outcome have outpaced those seen with in-center HD. It is not surprising, then, that virtually all the recent observational studies from different parts of the world consistently show that long-term survival of HD and PD patients is remarkably similar. These studies support the case for a greater use of PD for the treatment of end-stage renal disease. This, in turn, could allow more patients to be treated for any given budgetary allocation to long-term dialysis.     

血液透析和腹膜透析的成本效用分析

血液透析和腹膜透析是常用的两种维持治疗尿毒症患者的方法.由于卫生费用不断上涨,所以选择一种既经济,效果又比较好的治疗方式十分必要.为此,我们选择了50例血液透析和30例腹膜透析患者做临床观察,进行成本效用分析,为临床治疗提供依据.     

Factors affecting hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis efficiency

Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are two blood purification techniques that use similar operating systems. The hemodialysis system is based on three components (blood, membrane, and dialysate). The peritoneal dialysis system is based on the same components that can, however, be less manipulated and adjusted. In hemodialysis the blood flow is the main determinant of small solute removal thanks to a prevalently diffusive mechanism. Convection is also used to transport larger solutes across the membrane, but this mechanism relies on the high permeability coefficient of the membrane and high transmembrane pressure leading to high ultrafiltration rates. The membrane can therefore influence the performance of the techniques as far as solute removal and ultrafiltration are concerned. Finally, diffusion is facilitated by an improved distribution of dialysate flow in the dialysate compartment. This can be achieved with a special dialysate pathway configuration based on space yarns or micronodulation of the fibers. In peritoneal dialysis, blood flow and membrane characteristics can be less manipulated or almost not at all. The only variables are dialysate volume, flow, dwell time, and composition. Thanks to modification in these aspects of the dialysate, peritoneal dialysis techniques with different clearances and ultrafiltration rates can be accomplished.     

多囊肾病患者行连续性不卧床腹膜透析及血液透析的疗效比较

目的 对比进入终末期肾病（ESRD）的多囊肾病（PKD）患者行连续性不卧床腹膜透析（CAPD）及血液透析（HD）治疗的临床疗效。 方法 回顾性分析2001年1月至2007年12月期间在我科行透析治疗3个月以上的PKD患者,共29例患者入选,分为CAPD组（10例,34.5％）和HD组（19例,65.5％）,选择10例年龄及性别与CAPD组匹配非PKD的CAPD患者作为对照组。记录患者一般资料、透析初始资料、并发症、生存时间、退出透析或死亡等结局。采用Kaplan-Meier法,Log-Rank检验进行生存分析。 结果 CAPD组1年、3年及5年存活率分别为 90％、75％及25％;HD组为94.4％、67.6％及48.3％;对照组为83.3％、44.4％及22.2％,3组患者存活率差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。CAPD组与对照组Kt/V[（2.09±0.97）/周比（1.93±0.59）/周]、Ccr[（58.5±9.1） L&#8226;周-1&#8226;（1.73 m2）-1比（55.0±9.5）L&#8226;周-1&#8226;（1.73 m2）-1]、腹膜炎的发生率（0.62次/病人年比0.30次/病人年）、首次腹膜炎时间[（23.5±4.0）个月比（20.0±15.8）个月]、腹透管出口感染次数（0 次比 1次）、发生疝的例数（1例比0例）、腹透液渗漏的发生次数（0次比0次）差异均无统计学意义（均P > 0.05）。HD组2例发生脑出血（10.5％）,皆死亡;10例（52.6％）发生囊肿出血,其中5例因反复囊肿出血行手术治疗;2例因出血严重行单侧肾脏切除。CAPD组无脑出血发生,仅1例（10％）发生囊肿出血,该囊肿出血患者经保守治疗后好转。HD组出血并发症高于CAPD组（P < 0.05）且较严重。 结论 PKD患者与非PKD患者行CAPD治疗其预后及并发症的发生比例类似。PKD患者行CAPD治疗与HD治疗的预后同样较好,且行CAPD时出血并发症的风险较少。除非透析前存在疝或患者不耐受,PKD肾衰竭患者既可选择HD也可选择CAPD作为初始的肾脏替代治疗方式,PKD不是CAPD治疗的禁忌证。     

Nutritional status over time in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis

Malnutrition is a risk factor for mortality in the dialysis population. So far, prospective studies comparing the time course of nutritional status in new hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients have not been published. The aims of this study were to compare the time course of nutritional status in patients who were starting HD or PD and to identify the baseline determinants of that time course. In this prospective multicenter cohort study, data were collected from 3 (baseline) to 24 mo after the start of dialysis. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to establish the time course of nutritional status. Differences were adjusted for baseline characteristics. A total of 250 consecutive new patients were included: 132 started on HD, and 118 started on PD. A univariate analysis demonstrated a decrease in serum albumin (SA) in patients who started on HD and an increase in patients who started on PD. Body fat increased in PD; LBM did not change. The protein equivalent of nitrogen appearance normalized to ideal weight decreased in PD after 1 yr. In a multivariate analysis, SA at 2 yr was 2.0 g/L (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3 to 3.8) higher in patients who started on PD compared with patients who started on HD. The increase in body fat was 3.2 kg (95% CI, 1.6 to 4.9) higher in women who started on PD than in others. Patients who had diabetes gained 2.3 kg (95% CI, 0.6 to 4.1) more fat than patients who did not have diabetes. Kt/V(urea) did not affect the time course of nutritional status, but a higher Kt(urea) was associated with a higher SA at 24 mo. Nutritional status at the start of dialysis, gender, and diabetic status might be considered in making the choice for dialysis modality. Furthermore, providing a higher Kt(urea) may improve protein metabolism.     

Prevalence and determinants of hyperhomocysteinemia in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic complications in patients with end-stage renal disease, although the mechanisms remain unclear. The major determinants of plasma homocysteine concentration are usually folate, vitamin B12, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (vitamin B6), and glomerular filtration rate. METHODS: We measured factors, including plasma folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, creatinine, as well as the dose and duration of dialysis, that might affect plasma homocysteine concentrations in 130 patients on hemodialysis (HD) and compared these observations with those in 46 patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Independent determinants of total homocysteine were identified using a multiple logistical regression analysis. RESULTS: Total homocysteine values averaged 29.8 mumol/liter in HD patients, significantly higher than the mean value of 19.9 mumol/liter observed in patients on PD (P < 0.001). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was 90.8% among HD patients, significantly higher than the prevalence of 67.4% among PD patients. Folate values in HD patients averaged 45.5 nmol/liter and were significantly lower than in PD patients (104.2 nmol/liter, P < 0.001). For patients on HD, the only determinant of total homocysteine concentration was plasma folate (r = -0.31, P < 0.001). In contrast, for PD patients, total homocysteine did not correlate with plasma folate, vitamin B12, or vitamin B6. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocysteinemia is more prevalent and intense in HD patients compared with those on PD. The homocysteine response may become refractory to excess folate supplementation in PD patients.     

Comparison of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis survival in The Netherlands

Considerable geographic variation exists in the relative use of hemodialysis (HD) vs peritoneal dialysis (PD). Studies comparing survival between these modalities have yielded conflicting results. Our aim was to compare the survival of Dutch HD and PD patients. We developed Cox regression models using 16 643 patients from the Dutch End-Stage Renal Disease Registry (RENINE) adjusting for age, gender, primary renal disease, center of dialysis, year of start of renal replacement therapy, and included several interaction terms. We assumed definite treatment assignment at day 91 and performed an intention-to-treat analysis, censoring for transplantation. To account for time dependency, we stratified the analysis into three time periods, >3-6, >6-15, and >15 months. For the first period, the mortality hazard ratio (HR) of PD compared with HD patients was 0.26 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17-0.41) for 40-year-old non-diabetics, which increased with age and presence of diabetes to 0.95 (95% CI 0.64-1.39) for 70-year-old patients with diabetes as primary renal disease. The HRs of the second period were generally higher. After 15 months, the HR was 0.86 (95% CI 0.74-1.00) for 40-year-old non-diabetics and 1.42 (95% CI 1.23-1.65) for 70-year-old patients with diabetes as primary renal disease. We conclude that the survival advantage for Dutch PD compared with HD patients decreases over time, with age and in the presence of diabetes as primary disease.     

维持性血液透析与腹膜透析患者生活质量调查

目的 评估维持性血液透析(MHD)与持续非卧床腹膜透析(CAPD)患者生活质量情况,探讨MHD和CAPD患者生活质量的影响因素.方法 选取2016年7月～9月在郑州大学第一附属医院肾脏内科和血液净化中心随访的118例MHD患者和76例CAPD患者的临床和问卷调查资料.采用KDQOL-SFTM 1.3进行问卷分析,评估MHD与CAPD患者的生活质量.结果 MHD患者KDTA评分为(62.4±11.3)分,SF-36评分为(58.3±17.9)分,明显低于一般人群(P＜0.05).在各分维度评分中11个分维度评分略高于美国,6个分维度评分略高于西班牙;与国内广州调查数据相比,各维度评分均有明显改善,且与沈阳和合肥调查数据持平.CAPD患者KDTA评分为(71.4±8.9)分,SF-36评分为(61.6±16.3)分,明显低于一般人群(P＜0.05).在各分维度评分中7个分维度显著高于中国香港,其余均较中国香港偏低;与国内广州调查数据相比各维度评分均有明显改善,且与沈阳和合肥调查数据持平.MHD患者KDTA和SF-36整体评分显著低于CAPD患者(P＜0.05).在KDTA各分维度评分中,CAPD患者均高于MHD患者,且在肾脏疾病对日常生活的影响(EKD)、肾脏疾病导致的生活负担(BKD)、工作情况(WS)、认知功能(CF)、社交质量(QSI)、性功能(SexF)、社会支持(SoS)、患者满意度(PS)方面差异明显(P＜0.05);在SF-36评分中在生理职能(RP)、躯体疼痛(BP)、总体健康(GH)、情感状况(EWB)、情感职能(RE)各维度中,CAPD组患者均高于MHD患者且差异明显(P＜0.05).对于MHD患者,生活质量在性别、文化程度、家庭年收入、医保情况、原发病因、透析龄方面存在差异(P＜ 0.05),且在SGA评分、血白蛋白(ALB)、血红蛋白(HB)、尿素清除指数(Kt/V)、甲状旁腺激素(iPTH)、钙磷乘积(Ca×P)方面均存在相关性(P＜0.05).透析龄、性别(女)、原发病(糖尿病肾病)、iPTH、Kt/V、SGA评分是影响MHD患者生活质量的独立危险因素;对于CAPD患者,职业状况、医保情况、原发病因、透析龄方面存在差异(P＜0.05),且在SGA评分、ALB、HB、Kt/V方面存在相关性(P＜0.05),原发病(糖尿病肾病)、Kt/V、ALB、SGA评分是影响CAPD患者生活质量的独立危险因素.结论 MHD患者和CAPD患者整体生活质量较低,与发达国家和地区存在差距;CAPD和MHD患者生活质量均受不同因素影响,其中原发病(糖尿病肾病)、Kt/V、SGA评分是共同独立影响因素.     

Comparing mortality of elderly patients on hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis: a propensity score approach

The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in mortality over the first year of renal replacement therapy (RRT) between elderly patients starting treatment on hemodialysis (HD) versus peritoneal dialysis (PD). For the period of 1991 to mid-1996, this study defined an inception cohort of all patients aged >65 yr with new-onset chronic RRT who were New Jersey Medicare and/or Medicaid beneficiaries in the year before RRT and who had been diagnosed with renal disease more than 1 yr before RRT. Propensity scores were calculated for first treatment assignment from a large number of baseline covariates. Mortality was then compared among patients initially assigned to HD versus PD using multivariate 90-d interval Cox models controlled for propensity scores and center stratification. Peritoneal dialysis starters had a 16% higher rate of death during the first 90 d of RRT compared with HD patients (hazard ratio [HR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.96 to 1.42)]. Mortality did not differ between day 91 and 180 (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.71 to 1.51). Thereafter, PD starters again died at a higher rate (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.98). These findings were more pronounced among patients with diabetes. Sensitivity analyses using more stringent criteria to ensure that first treatment choice reflected long-term treatment choice confirmed the presence of an association between PD and mortality. In conclusion, compared with HD, peritoneal dialysis appears to be associated with higher mortality among older patients, particularly among those with diabetes, even after controlling for a large number of risk factors for mortality, propensity scores to control for nonrandom treatment assignment, and center stratification.     

血液透析和腹膜透析患者生存比较

目的 比较血液透析和腹膜透析患者的生存情况,探讨影响透析患者生存的主要危险因素。 方法 研究对象为2005年1月1日至2008年12月31日期间新进入透析且年龄≥18岁患者,随访至2009年3月31日。应用Kaplan-Meier法、log-rank检验及Cox回归模型分析患者的生存资料。 结果 共460例透析患者入选,其中247例起始采用血透治疗,213例起始采用腹透治疗。两组患者的基线资料,包括开始透析年龄、体质量指数（BMI）、估算肾小球滤过率（eGFR）、平均动脉压、进入透析治疗前心脑血管事件、Charlson并发症指数（CCI）等的差异均无统计学意义。中位随访时间为17.9（0.25,51）个月。意向治疗分析结果中,Kaplan-Meier生存曲线显示血透总体生存率优于腹透（P ＜ 0.05,log-rank检验）;透析1年内两组生存率差异无统计学意义（P = 0.14）,而透析1年后腹透患者的生存率显著低于血透患者（P ＜ 0.05）。亚组分析结果显示,≥65岁的非糖尿病肾病血透组生存率显著高于腹透组（P ＜ 0.05）。Cox回归分析显示,经混杂因素调整后,两种透析方式本身对透析生存无明显影响（HR,HD：PD = 0.778,95%CI 0.483~1.254,P = 0.303）;而年龄（HR = 1.051,95%CI 1.030~1.073,P ＜ 0.01）、透前有脑血管意外史（HR = 2.032,95%CI 1.125~3.670,P ＜ 0.05）、透前CCI≥5（HR=2.592,95%CI 1.230~5.465,P ＜ 0.05）、前白蛋白（HR = 0.022,95%CI 0.001~0.768,P ＜ 0.05）为透析患者生存率的主要影响因素。 结论 透析龄≤1年的血透和腹透生存率无显著差异;透析龄>1年的血透患者生存率可能逐渐高于腹透患者。老年非糖尿病患者血透生存率可能高于腹透。年龄、透前脑血管意外史、透前CCI≥5为影响透析生存率的主要危险因素。     

Comparison of eosinophilia in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis

Eosinophilia (E) has been noted in hemodialysis (HD) patients, but its etiology is not clear. In an effort to clarify this phenomenon, we prospectively studied patients initiating dialysis in our outpatient HD and peritoneal dialysis programs. Rate of E was greatest for a small group of four continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis patients (75%), less for 63 HD patients (41%), and least for 66 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients (21%, P less than .05, HD v CAPD). Increasing E rates among the groups paralleled increased frequency of tubing changes. There were no differences in etiology of renal disease, medications, types of dialyzers, types of access, or transfusion frequency that could account for the E. IgE levels did not correlate with E. The data suggest that the dialysis procedure or the tubing changes may be causing the E, but the possibility that uremia, itself, is important in the pathogenesis of dialysis E is also discussed.