Our study showed that ER above 12 months before HD initiation and L-start of dialysis was associated with a reduced mortality risk in HD patients.

Introduction.Patients on hemodialysis (HD) are proven to have impaired Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) compared to the general population. Recovery from the hemodialysis session is a permanent problem among majority of patients receiving HD treatment. A partial explanation may be the osmotic imbalance between different compartments of the body due to the fluid and electrolyte movement across the cell membrane which is a part of the HD process itself. The aim of our study was to see whether the length of recovery time (RT) is associated with different clinically relevant variables and dialysis treatment features in our HD population. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional study on patients receiving trice weekly HD in a single hemodialysis center. The recovery time was defined by posing a single question "How long does it take you to recover after a hemodialysis session?" and was calculated in hours (up to 2, 2-6, 6-12, and 12-24 hours) / minutes. Various demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed for association with the RT. Results. The mean RT was 364.62±339.24 minutes. From all of the analyzed variables a significant statistical correlation was obtained with the level of albumin, urea, interdialytic weight gain (IDWG), protein catabolic rate (PCR), body mass index (BMI) and the level of hemoglobin (p<0.05 for all parameters). The longest mean RT had patients with hypertension and glomerulonephritis as a primary cause of ESRD and the shortest, patients with an adult dominant polycystic kidney disease. With the multiple regression analysis a significant correlation was obtained only for the level of hemoglobin (Hb) with a coefficient for partial regression analysis -0.2635. The t-test showed that the influence of the level of hemoglobin on recovery time in patients was statistically significant (p = 0.039). Conclusions. RT in our study was associated with IDWG, albumin, urea, BMI, and PCR, while the level of hemo-

Patients undergoing hemodialysis are at risk for atherosclerosis and its complications. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of erythropoietin therapy and hemodialysis duration on some of the atherosclerotis risk factors. The patients were divided into four groups: I: patients undergoing hemodialysis for less than 10 years (n=22); II: patients undergoing hemodialysis for more than 10 years (n=17); III: patients on no erythropoietin (n=21); IV: patients on erythropoeitin therapy (n=18). A control group of 20 subjects was also examined. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein, lipoprotein(a), apolipoprotein-A1, apolipoprotein-B and lipid peroxidation were examined. There was a significant increase in triglycerides, to 2.59+/-1.2 mmol/l (p<0.001) and in lipid peroxidation in hemodialysis patients, to 5.02+/-0.9 micromol/l vs. controls (p<0.001). Significantly elevated triglycerides and lipid peroxidation levels were found in the patients with longer hemodialysis duration. Triglycerides were elevated in group II vs. group I, to 2.90+/-1.0 mmol/l. (p<0.05). Lipid peroxidation in group II, 5.40+/-1.0 micromol/l, showed significant difference compared to group I (p<0.05). Erythropoietin treatment did not affect any of the examined parameters. These results indicate increased risk for atherosclerosis related to hemodialysis duration. Besides the renal disease itself, hemodialysis may also be one of the risk factors for atherosclerosis.

1,019 adult patients with terminal renal failure were treated with dialysis (D) in the first part of the year 2000 in the Republic of Macedonia. 1,010 patients (99%) were treated with chronic intermittent (maintenance) hemodialysis (HD) while nine patients (1%) were on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). For the children, a special peritoneal dialysis program was developed; 509 patients per million of the population (PMP) were on dialysis. The Republic of Macedonia is, therefore, among those central and eastern European countries with a higher PMP number in the treatment of end-stage renal disease, following Croatia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. The patients were treated at 18 Centers in a network of HD Centers at a distance of 30-50 km. from their place of residence in order to facilitate their access to treatment and to work. All patients who have had symptoms indicating need for treatment with D were accepted for treatment. The government payed all the expenses of the treatment and the salaries of the staff. 56% were male and 44% were female patients. The youngest patient was aged 9 and the oldest was 82 years old. There has been an increase in the age of the patients on D as well as an increase in their number. In 1993 we had 727 patients being treated with D, and now we have 1,019 with a constant increase in the number of patients with ESRD and a need for D and renal transplantation. Mortality per year at the different Centers ranged from 8-19% in 1999 and the average is 12%. Glomerulonephritis (GN)--both primary and secondary--is the main cause of renal failure (RF) in some Centers up to 45%. Tubulo-interstitial disease follows GN. ADPKD patients constitute 9.4% with a difference among the Centers of 3-29%, and diabetic nephropathy is found in 10%, 5-15% in different Centers. 11-61% of patients have an unknown etiology. 352 patients are on treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin (rhuEPO) - in some Centers up to 60%. The mode of application was subcutaneous and the initial dose is 20 U/kg body weight and the mean maintenance dose of EPO per patient weekly is 4,000 U. The Cimino-Brescia arteriovenous fistula is being applied as a standard vascular access. The survival rate of our patients treated with maintenance HD at 5 years was 58%. CAPD and particularly renal transplantation are to be further developed as alternative methods in treating terminal renal failure.

Older age, lower BMI, borderline hyponatremia, higher sodium gradient and smaller ultrafiltration rate are the clinical characteristics of patients with intradialytic hypertension.