Introduction Inflammation in patients with ESRD undergoing HD is an increasing concern for physicians and has been related to increase the rates of morbidity and mortality. Interestingly, patients with ESRD in conventional HD have frequent infections and a suboptimal response to vaccines; this is probably related to an immune inflammatory disorder associated either with uremia and/or nutritional status. In addition to CRP, which seems to be the most important marker for the identification and control of inflammation in clinical practice, many other markers are also available for the evaluation of inflammatory state. Decreased renal clearance clearly accounts for higher levels of circulating cytokines, although increased production has also been described. Hemodiafiltration has been shown to improve cardio-protection and the immunologic system and reduces infection and mortality compared with conventional HD. A recent study showed that hemodiafiltration compared with conventional HD reduced the risk of mortality in ESRD patients. Analysis of pooled individual participant data from randomized controlled trials has shown survival benefits of high volume-HDF on all-cause mortality and especially cardiovascular mortality rate. The mechanisms that lead to improved outcomes are not clear, but it is thought that HDF may reduce the production of inflammatory mediators through the use of biocompatible dialysers and ultrapure dialysate and also improve clearance of larger molecular weight substances, many of which are associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Objective The aim of this study is to detect, prospectively, the effect of 3 months dialysis with Hemodiafiltration on inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers in comparison to conventional dialysis with high flux dialyzer in stable HD patients. Patients and methods 30 adults aged 20-75 years who were selected from Dialysis Unit, Kobary El-Kobba Military Hospital. 30 male patients known to have chronic kidney disease and are on dialysis with high flux dialyzer more than 3 months were divided into 2 groups:15 Patients are shifted to be on dialysis with HDF and 15 Patients are continued to be on Regular Hemodialysis with high flux dialyzer. Full medical history and clinical examination. Anthropometric measurements and Laboratory investigations including Complete Blood Picture (WBCs, platelets, Hb), Coagulation profile PT, PTT&INR, Liver function tests (ALT, AST, T. Bilirubin and S. Albumin), Lipid profile (Triglycerides, total cholesterol, VLDL), S. creatinine, BUN, Na, K, Uric acid, Total Proteins, Serum Calcium, Serum Phosphorus, PTH, Serum ferritin, High sensitivity CRP (Enzyme- Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)) and IL6 (ELISA). Results The current study was conducted on 30 patients with chronic kidney disease on regular dialysis. The patients were divided into two groups A representing patients on hemodiafiltration (n = 15) and group B representing patients on dialysis with high flux dialyzer (n = 15). A high statistical significant difference (P < 0.01) was found regarding K 4.3±0.6 meq/l in group A while it is 5.2±0.5 meq/l in group B, a high statistical significant difference (P < 0.01) was found regarding phosphorus 4.6±1.0 mg/dl in group A while it is 6.1±0.9 mg/dl in group B and no statistical significant difference (P > 0.05) was found as regard the uric acid. A statistical significant difference (P < 0.05) was found regarding CRP 63.5±40.9 mg/dl in group A while it is 73.4±33.2 mg/dl in group B, a statistical significant difference (P < 0.01) was found regarding IL6 85.3±37.6 mg/dl in group A while it is 156.7±151.9 mg/dl in group B after 3 months and no statistical significant difference (P > 0.05) was found as regard those inflammatory markers before 3 months. A statistical significant difference (P < 0.05) was found regarding CRP. A statistical significant difference (P < 0.05) was found regarding IL6. Conclusion The present study revealed that there was no significant change in CRP and IL6 in patients on HDF compared to patients undergoing hemodialysis with high flux dialyzer before 3 months but there was a significant decrease in CRP and IL6 in patients on HDF compared to patients undergoing hemodialysis with high flux dialyzer after 3 months.

Background and Aims In hemodialysis (HD) patients, the majority of bloodstream infections are caused by infection of vascular access catheters. Commonly, Central venous catheters (CVCs) are the only option when HD is needed for patients without definitive vascular access. However, in addition to infection, CVCs are associated with other complications, such as thrombosis, and dysfunction, leading to higher mortality and expenditures. In Egypt, recent data show that 6.6% of HD patients use catheters as a vascular access, of which short term catheters represent 59.6% and 40.4% with long-term catheters. Many data show that the use of HD catheter-locking solutions could contribute to reduction of catheter-related complications, especially infections. Aim; to assess the possible effect of using Trisodium citrate 30% (TSC 30%) in comparison to unfractionated heparin, as a lock solution for HD catheters, on inflammatory status, incidence of catheter related Bacteremia (CRB) and dialysis adequacy in HD patients. Method This was a randomized controlled clinical trial, conducted on 70 prevalent HD patients on regular dialysis using HD catheters as a vascular access, recruited from hemodialysis unit in Nasser Institute Hospital in Cairo government at the time of catheter insertion. Patients were divided into two groups: Citrate Group; 35 patients received trisodium citrate 30% as a catheter lock after HD session, Heparin Group; 35 patients received unfractionated heparin (5000i.u) as a catheter lock solution after HD session. Both groups were followed up for 3 months period and monitored for signs of CRB. Also, Urea reduction ratio (URR) were measured monthly. Highly sensitive CRP were measured at baseline and 3 months after start using the lock solutions. Blood cultures were withdrawn in patients who developed signs of CRB. Results In our study, the catheter-related bacteremia (CRB) episodes were significantly lower in the Citrate group when compared to Heparin group. Only 2 patients (5.7%) in Citrate group had CRB, whereas in Heparin group, 8 patients (22.9%) had CRB (P = 0.04) (Fig. 1). Also, Bacteremia-free time was longer in the Citrate group. The mean bacteremia free time in Citrate group was 10.97 ± 2.36 weeks, while in Heparin group it was 9.43 ± 3.91 weeks (P = 0.032) (Fig. 2). At base line, there was no significant difference between both groups regarding hsCRP (P = 0.596) and WBCs (P = 0.528). While after 3 months of using TSC 30% as a lock solution, there was a significant difference as regards levels of hsCRP (P = 0.030) (Fig. 3) and WBCs (P = 0.036), with the higher levels of inflammatory markers showed in Heparin group. There was no difference between the two studied groups regarding thrombosis events. However, dialysis adequacy and catheter performance, assessed by URR, were higher in citrate group compared to heparin group after 3 months (P = 0.005) compared to baseline (P = 0.108) (Fig. 4). Conclusion we may conclude that, using Trisodium citrate 30% as lock solution for HD catheters was associated with reduction in the inflammatory markers and CRB incidence compared to the standard heparin lock. Also, its use was associated with better catheter performance and dialysis adequacy. We therefore believe that TSC 30% may be a potential alternative to standard heparin as a catheter lock solution for HD patients.

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Background Pruritus is a common and often distressing symptom in patients with chronic kidney disease. Though the pathogenesis of uremic pruritus remains poorly understood, systemic inflammation has presented itself as one of the possible explanations. High blood lead levels (BLLs) have been noted to be associated with inflammation and poor nutritional status in hemodialysis patients. Our aim is to study the relation between blood lead levels and uremic pruritus. This is a cross-sectional study that enrolled 50 patients; all were on regular hemodialysis 3 times per week for at least 6 months. Patients were divided into 2 groups, group 1 (n =10) with no pruritus and group 2 (n=40) with varying degrees of pruritus. Group 2 was further divided according to intensity of pruritus by visual analog score (VAS) into mild (n=10), moderate (n=20), and severe pruritus (n=10). Results There was a significant difference in serum lead levels and ferritin levels between groups 1 and 2 (p value < 0.01 and < 0.05, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in serum lead levels in the groups with varying intensity of pruritus, having higher serum lead levels in patients who exhibited severe pruritus (p value < 0.005) Moreover, a statistically significant relation between elevated blood lead levels and the duration of dialysis was observed in this study. Conclusion Uremic pruritus is a multi-factorial phenomenon, and our study showed that blood lead levels in hemodialysis patients might be associated with increased intensity of pruritus.

Background The etiology of anemia in End Stage Renal Disease is multifactorial. Importantly, ESRD patients also have several abnormalities in systemic homeostasis of iron, an essential component in the production of red blood cells. Aim of the Work to assess hepcidin level in negative virology End Stage Renal Disease patients & its relation to iron level and erythropoiesis. Patients and Methods This study was conducted on 45 patients who are stage V chronic kidney disease on regular haemodialysis. Ten age and sex matched controls were included in the study. The study included 29 (64.4%) males and 16 (35.6%) females; their mean age was 53.40± 11.56 years. The prevalence of diabetes among the studied cases was 17.8%, while that of hypertensive was 42.2%. Mean of serum iron level was 64.23±19.53. Mean of TIBC was 409.96±67.85. Mean of Ferritin level 394.55±139.23 and mean of Hepcidin level was 218.51±127. Results Significant negative correlation between Hepcidin level and the Hemoglobin level, and highly significant positive correlation between Hepcidin level and serum Ferritin. Hepcidin up-regulation in the setting of CKD, with subsequent increased serum levels, results in impaired iron absorption from the intestine and decreased iron release from body storage sites. Ultimately, in the setting of such elevated levels, a state of functional iron deficiency may develop and lead to anemia due to iron-restricted erythropoiesis. Conclusion Based on current evidence, it seems likely that hepcidin represents a potentially modifiable mediator of anemia of CKD and is thus a potential target for future anemia therapy.