Hui Lin Choong

Increasing home based dialysis therapies to tackle dialysis burden around the world: a position statement on dialysis economics from the 2nd Congress of the International Society for Hemodialysis

PHILIP KAM-TAO LI, WAI LUN CHEUNG, SING LEUNG LUI, CHRISTOPHER BLAGG, ALAN CASS, LAI SEONG HOOI, HO YUNG LEE, FRANCESCO LOCATELLI, TAO WANG, CHIH-WEI YANG, BERNARD CANAUD, YUK LUN CHENG, HUI LIN CHOONG, ANGEL L DE FRANCISCO, VICTOR GURA, KAZO KAIZU, PETER G KERR, UN I KUOK, CHI BON LEUNG, WAI-KEI LO, MADHUKAR MISRA, CHEUK CHUN SZETO, KWOK LUNG TONG, KRIANG TUNGSANGA, ROBERT WALKER, ANDREW KUI-MAN WONG, ALEX WAI-YIN YU, on behalf of the participants of THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON DIALYSIS ECONOMICS in the SECOND CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR HEMODIALYSIS (ISHD 2009)*

Funding Renal Replacement Therapy in Southeast Asia: Building Public-Private Partnerships in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia

The provision of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in developing economies is limited by lack of financial and other resources. There are no national reimbursement policies for RRT in many countries in Asia. The Southeast Asia countries of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia have adopted a strategy of encouraging public-private partnerships to increase the RRT rates in their respective countries. The private organizations include both for-profit and philanthropic bodies. The latter raise funds from ordinary citizens, corporations, and faith-based groups, as well as receive subsidies from the government to support RRT for patients in need. The kidney foundations of these countries play a leadership role in this public-private partnership. Many of the private organizations that support RRT are providers of treatment in addition to offering financial assistance to patients, with hemodialysis being the most frequently supported modality. Public-private partnership in funding RRT is sustainable over the long term with proper organization and facilitated by support from the government.

The contribution of chronic kidney disease to the global burden of major noncommunicable diseases

To the Editor: We have read the report of the ISN Global Outreach Programme,1 which confirms that, for the less developed countries compared with the more developed ones, chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) and not diabetic nephropathy (DiabNx) is still the leading cause of end-stage renal failure (ESRF).

Albumin Dialysis Without Anticoagulation in High-Risk Patients: An Observational Study

Severe liver failure causes coagulopathy and high bleeding risk. Albumin dialysis with Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) (Gambro, Lund, Sweden) is useful for treatment. However, anticoagulation during its use is of uncertain value. We omitted heparin-saline priming and intradialytic heparin and examined its effects. Albumin dialysis was performed in critically ill patients with intermittent circuit saline flushes (2664 ± 2420 mL per treatment). A total of 12 patients (M : F = 10:2; age 49 ± 9 years) were thus treated: 6 for fulminant hepatic failure and 6 for acute-on-chronic liver failure. The overall hospitalization duration was 31 ± 30 days. A total of 44 treatment sessions were performed (average 8 ± 7 sessions per patient). Prescribed versus achieved MARS duration were 13 ± 3 versus 11 ± 4 h, P < 0.05. Twenty-three percent (10/44) of MARS sessions clotted, 11% (5/44) of treatments were electively terminated, and 2% (1/44) developed vascular catheter occlusion. Spontaneous bleeding occurred in 9% (4/44). Pre- versus post-MARS systemic and blood circuit transmembrane pressures (mm Hg), and albumin dialysate afferent and efferent pressures were all stable. Coagulation indices were (pre- vs. post-MARS): (i) prothrombin time (seconds): 36 ± 30 versus 42 ± 33, P = 0.143; (ii) activated partial thromboplastin time (seconds): 78 ± 43 versus 88 ± 45, P = 0.117; and (iii) platelet count (×10(3) /µL): 87 ± 40 versus 76 ± 48, P = 0.004. Systemic blood solute concentrations pre- versus post-MARS were: (i) serum urea (mg/dL): 22.4 ± 19.6 versus 14.0 ± 8.4, P < 0.05; (ii) serum creatinine (mg/dL): 2.8 ± 2.3 versus 1.9 ± 1.5, P < 0.05; (iii) total bilirubin (mg/dL): 29.5 ± 8.8 versus 20.5 ± 5.1, P < 0.05; and (iv) plasma ammonia (µg/dL): 186 ± 85 versus 129 ± 66, P < 0.05. Anticoagulant-free albumin dialysis remained effective despite frequent circuit clotting. This led to significant exacerbation of thrombocytopenia although bleeding risk remained low.

Albumin dialysis in critically ill patients: use versus omission of intradialytic heparin.

Albumin liver dialysis using the Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) (Teraklin AG, Rostock, Germany) is used in severe acute liver failure (ALF). We hypothesized that intradialytic heparin worsens preexisting hemostatic defects without enhancing system longevity or therapeutic efficacy. This was a retrospective, single center study of 10 critically ill patients (M : F = 8:2; mean age 58.5 +/- 16.5 years old; Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II 25.0 +/- 3.5) treated with 31 MARS sessions (intradialytically heparinized : nonheparinized = 18:13). Mortality in this cohort was 80%. All MARS circuits were primed with dilute heparinized saline before commencement. However, intradialytic, intermittent, bolus heparin was administered on an ad hoc basis with circuit saline flush where indicated. Acute renal replacement therapy was instituted where indicated. Average total intradialytic heparin used was 757 +/- 389 IU. Circuit pressures were stable with or without intradialytic heparin. Significant reductions in serum urea, creatinine, ammonia, and total bilirubin were achieved using intradialytically heparinized and nonheparinized MARS. Thrombocytopenia and elevated activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were further deranged post-MARS for both circuit types, but significantly so in intradialytically heparinized MARS: pre- versus post-MARS aPTT (s) 57.8 +/- 17.6 versus 88.7 +/- 48.0, P = 0.011, and platelet count (x 10(3)/L) 102.9 +/- 61.1 versus 84.4 +/- 50.5; P = 0.009. The use of low dose, intradialytic heparin during MARS exacerbates preexisting severe coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia in patients with severe ALF without enhancing circuit function and longevity. However, the role and safety of heparinized saline prime need further investigation.

On uncertain etiologies of proteinuric-chronic kidney disease in rural Sri Lanka

To the Editor: We read with great interest the above article,1 in which the authors had accrued data from a population survey of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a rural population in Sri Lanka. Our experience in Singapore in the 1970s2 was very similar to the Sri Lankan study in which Lim et al.2 conducted a community survey of the population. The prevalence of proteinuric CKD was also low, i.e., 0.63%.

Increasing home-based dialysis therapies to tackle dialysis burden around the world: A position statement on dialysis economics from the 2nd Congress of the International Society for Hemodialysis.

Philip Kam-Tao LI, Wai Lun CHEUNG, Sing Leung LUI, Christopher BLAGG, Alan CASS, Lai Seong HOOI, Ho Yung LEE, Francesco LOCATELLI, Tao WANG, Chih-Wei YANG, Bernard CANAUD, Yuk Lun CHENG, Hui Lin CHOONG, Angel L. de FRANCISCO, Victor GURA, Kazo KAIZU, Peter G. KERR, Un I. KUOK, Chi Bon LEUNG, Wai-Kei LO, Madhukar MISRA, Cheuk Chun SZETO, Kwok Lung TONG, Kriang TUNGSANGA, Robert WALKER, Andrew Kui-Man WONG, Alex Wai-Yin YU, On Behalf of the participants of the Roundtable Discussion on Dialysis Economics in the 2nd Congress of the International Society for Hemodialysis held in Hong Kong in August 2009

Subjective global assessment for nutritional assessment of hospitalized patients requiring haemodialysis: A prospective cohort study

Evidence has validated that the nutritional status of hospitalized patients on haemodialysis could be compromised because of admission‐related and hospital‐associated morbidities on the background of their kidney disease. However, nutritional status is not assessed and monitored routinely during the hospitalization period. The aim of the present study was to assess the nutritional status of hospitalized patients requiring haemodialysis with the subjective global assessment (SGA) tool during the hospitalization period.

Microbiology and audit of vascular access-associated bloodstream infections in multi-ethnic Asian hemodialysis patients in a tertiary hospital

Abstract Background: In view of high mortality and morbidity rates associated with vascular access-associated bloodstream infection (VAABSI) in hemodialysis patients, clinical practice guidelines recommend empiric antibiotic therapy for suspected vascular access-related infections. We aim to describe the microbiology of confirmed VAABSI and evaluate the choice of empiric antibiotics, and whether they are prescribed in concordance with the in-house antibiotic guidelines. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, observational study conducted in a tertiary hospital. All adult hemodialysis patients aged 21 years and above who had confirmed VAABSI with positive blood culture results dated from January 2011 to June 2012 were recruited. Relevant information was retrieved electronically from the hospital patient online database, SCM 5.5 Sunrise Enterprise Gateway. Results: A total of 144 episodes of VAABSI were recorded from 118 patients. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) accounted for 64.2% (68/106) of the gram-positive infections. Gram-negative organisms grew in 26.4% (38/144) of blood cultures and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common organism isolated. The recommended in-house guideline was used as empiric therapy in 24 episodes of VAABSI (16.7%). Five patients died due to VAABSI and none were prescribed antibiotics in concordance with in-house guidelines. Conclusions: Empiric antibiotics against MSSA and MRSA, as well as gram-negative organisms, especially P. aeruginosa, should be used in patients with suspected vascular access-related infections in our institution. Monitoring of microbiological profile is necessary to guide timely administration of appropriate empiric antibiotics. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the relationship between adherence to in-house guidelines and patients’ outcomes.

Angiotensin receptor blocker and calcium channel blocker combination prevents cardiovascular events in CKD better than high-dose ARB alone

To the Editor: We read with great interest the article by Kim-Mitsuyama and the commentary by Briasoulis and Bakris in the recent issue of Kidney International.1, 2 Both the authors and the commentators have attributed the more optimal blood pressure (BP) control in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on combination therapy with angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and calcium channel blocker (CCB) as the main factor contributing to the prevention of cardiovascular events compared with those on high-dose ARB. In patients without CKD, the incidence of primary events was the same in both groups, suggesting that decreased eGFR was the independent risk factor for cardiovascular events.