Although high‐volume postdilution online hemodiafiltration (ol‐HDF) is superior to high‐flux HD in removing all kinds of uremic toxins and improving survival, this treatment is not available in most HD centers. The present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness in removals of protein‐bound (indoxyl sulfate [IS]), middle‐molecule [beta‐2 microglobulin (B2M) and alpha‐1 microglobulin (A1MG)], and small‐molecule uremic toxins between super high‐flux HD (SHF‐HD), HD with a novel SHF dialyzer and high‐volume postdilution ol‐HDF in a noninferiority fashion. Fifteen prevalent HD patients were randomly allocated into two sequences of 12‐week treatment periods of SHF‐HD treatment and later high‐volume postdilution ol‐HDF period or vice versa. Each treatment period was divided by a wash‐out phase of 4‐week high‐flux HD. Twelve of 15 patients could complete the study. When compared with high‐volume postdilution ol‐HDF (convective volume of 24.4 ± 3.52 L), SHF‐HD provided comparable reduction ratio values of IS, B2M, and A1MG with mean difference of 5.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] ‐1.63, 13.37), 1.98 (95% CI,‐0.21, 4.18), and 22.96 (95% CI, ‐1.91, 47.83), respectively. The spKt/Vurea was not different. The predialysis levels of all uremic toxins at baseline and after 12‐week treatment did not differ between both groups. Although albumin loss in dialysate in SHF‐HD was greater than high‐volume postdilution ol‐HDF, the serum albumin levels after 12‐week SHF‐HD treatment were significantly higher than baseline. In conclusion, SHF‐HD provides noninferior effectiveness to high‐volume postdilution ol‐HDF in removing various uremic toxins with significantly increased serum albumin levels despite higher albumin loss. SHF‐HD might be an effectively alternative treatment when high‐volume postdilution ol‐HDF is not available.

SUMMARY BackgroundRed chili has been reported to modulate visceral hypersensitivity, probably by the action of its active ingredient, capsaicin. The role of 5HT-3 receptors on capsaicin-sensitive visceral nociceptive pathways is unknown.

Objective The aim of this study was to measure and evaluate the appropriateness of the actual concentrations of serum and dialysate cefazolin and gentamicin in Thai continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients treated following the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) 1996 recommendations for the empiric therapy of CAPD-related peritonitis. Design Prospective and descriptive study. Setting Institutional level of clinical care. Patients CAPD-related peritonitis patients were diagnosed by dialysate effluent white cell count of more than 100/mm3 and polymorphonuclear leukocytes of at least 50%. There were 18 patients, all at least 15 years of age, entered; all completed the study. Intervention In accordance with the ISPD 1996 recommendations, the antibiotic regimen included continuous intraperitoneal (IP) cefazolin and once-daily IP amino-glycoside. Cefazolin was administered as loading and continuous maintenance doses of 500 and 125 mg/L dialysate, respectively. Gentamicin, 0.6 mg/kg body weight, was given IP once daily. Duration of treatment was 120 hours. Main Outcome Measures Serum and dialysate effluent samples of the 18 CAPD patients with peritonitis were measured and used for the synthesis of pharmacokinetic equations that could predict drug concentrations at any treatment time. Results Following administration according to the ISPD 1996 treatment recommendations, serum cefazolin reached levels higher than the recommended levels (8 mg/mL) at 3.3 minutes after drug administration, and persisted through the 5-day duration of the study. Dialysate cefazolin levels during the studied period also were persistently higher than the recommended values. The peak serum gentamicin levels were lower than the suggested values of 4 mg/mL, whereas the trough serum gentamicin levels were higher than the minimal toxic concentrations (2 mg/mL). Dialysate gentamicin levels were higher than therapeutic concentrations for only 4.75 hours in each day. It was difficult, using pharmacokinetic studies, to adjust the dosage regimen of gentamicin to achieve appropriately therapeutic levels in both serum and dialysate. Conclusions The ISPD 1996 recommended dosage of continuous IP cefazolin could be appropriate for the treatment of CAPD-related peritonitis. Once-daily IP gentamicin administration, however, has less therapeutic benefit and should be re-evaluated.

Objective The aim of this study was to measure and evaluate the appropriateness of the actual concentrations of serum and dialysate ceftazidime in Thai continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Design Prospective and descriptive study of patients treated following the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) 2000 recommendation for the empiric therapy of CAPD-related peritonitis. Setting Institutional level of clinical care. Patients CAPD-related peritonitis patients were diagnosed by dialysate effluent white blood cell count of more than 100/mm3 and polymorphonuclear leukocytes of at least 50%. There were 10 patients, all at least 18 years of age, entered; all completed the study. Intervention In accordance with the ISPD 2000 recommendations, the antibiotic regimen comprised continuous intraperitoneal (IP) cefazolin and once-daily IP ceftazidime. Cefazolin was administered as loading and continuous maintenance doses of 500 and 125 mg/L dialysate respectively. Ceftazidime (20 mg/kg body weight) was given IP once daily. Duration of treatment was 96 hours. Main Outcome Measures Serum and dialysate effluent samples of the 10 CAPD patients with peritonitis were measured for ceftazidime levels, which were used for the development of pharmacokinetic equations that could predict drug concentrations at any treatment time. Results Following ceftazidime administration as in the ISPD 2000 recommendation, serum ceftazidime levels were above 8 μg/mL, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) recommended by NCCLS, throughout 24 hours. Dialysate ceftazidime levels were below the MIC for total periods of 4.19 and 6.26 hours in day 1 and day 4 respectively. The clinical response rate to the empiric regimen was 90%. Conclusions Once-daily IP administration of ceftazidime according to the ISPD 2000 recommendation could not provide adequately therapeutic levels of ceftazidime in dialysate throughout 24 hours. Despite this finding and the poor post-antibiotic property of ceftazidime, the empiric regimen including once-daily IP ceftazidime could yield good clinical outcome.

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