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Background: Chronic renal failure (CRF) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are among the underlying reasons for the hospitalization of expeditionary pilgrims to Mecca. This study aimed to evaluate the reasons and consequences of sending the patients with CRF and ESRD to Mecca to perform rites of pilgrimage. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study assessed the profiles of all pilgrims in 2012 and 2013. The independent variables were awareness and unawareness of the patients with CRF and patients on dialysis; moreover, the dependent variables were reasons for referral and hospitalization in hospital, probable death rate, and indications of dialysis in an emergency. Results: Out of all Pilgrims, 2416 (1.76% of the total pilgrims’ population) cases had CRF, out of whom 1.15%, 10.47%, and 88.36% of the patients were on dialysis, aware, and unaware of their disease, respectively. Furthermore, 93 (3.9%) patients with CRF were hospitalized during Hajj. Cardiovascular disease (41%) and respiratory diseases (20%) were the most common reasons for patients’ hospitalization. Conclusion: It is suggested that the glomerular filtration rate of the pilgrims be calculated before sending them to Hajj; moreover, the patients with CRF should be screened accurately. Proper vaccination and cardio check-up are necessary before the Hajj expedition. Considering low-salt diet and adequate fluid intake in patients with CRF during Hajj can minimize patients' referral to hospitals.

This study aims to compare the efficiency of Pregabalin and Ketotifen in treatment of uremic pruritus in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Thirty HD patients were randomly divided into two groups: A (Pregabalin 50 mg three times a day) and B (Ketotifen 1 mg twice a day). Efficacy of treatment and quality of life were weekly evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Itchy Quality of life, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding demographic features, laboratory data, quality of life, and VAS before treatment. In the second week of treatment, the pruritus intensity was significantly lower in the Pregabalin group than the Ketotifen group (p = 0.026). The mean of life quality was significantly lower in Ketotifen than Pregabalin group in weeks 1, 2, and 4 (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.036, respectively). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the side effects of drugs. This study showed that a higher dose of Pregabalin could be a more effective treatment than Ketotifen without additive side effects in improving the quality of life in dialysis patients.

Introduction: Nutritional interventions have been envisaged to improve hyperphosphatemia and malnutrition, two important risk factors associated with mortality in dialysis patients. We evaluated the effects of egg white consumption on serum phosphate and malnutrition in dialysis patients. Methods:In an open-label, per protocol clinical trial, conducted in Kerman dialysis centers, 150 hemodialysis patients aged ≥18 years with serum phosphorus ≥5.5 mg/dl were included in the study. All participants limited their intake of foods containing phosphorus for 4 weeks, and then they were divided into a control and an intervention group. The control group continued their ordinary diet and the participants in the intervention group consumed a Telavang egg white pack (containing six egg whites, 96 calories, 24 g protein) as a substitute for meat products 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Finally, changes in serum albumin, phosphorus, calcium, PTH, and cholesterol were measured. Findings: At the baseline, there were no significant differences in the laboratory variables between the two groups. After 8 weeks, serum cholesterol (124.3 AE 38.1, vs. 135.8 AE 28.8, p = 0.003) and phosphorus levels (4.5 AE 1.03, vs. 6.7 AE 1.5, p = 0.001) were significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group. Also, serum albumin (4.5 AE 0.07 vs. 3.7 AE 0.4, p = 0.001) was significantly higher in the intervention group. Moreover, phosphorus, PTH, and cholesterol levels in the intervention group were significantly lower than their baseline values (p = 0.001). Conclusion:The results showed that the egg white could be a useful source of protein for dialysis patients, as it simultaneously reduces serum phosphorus and cholesterol, and increases serum albumin.