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Bernard Charra

Publications and source records attributed to Bernard Charra.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Stability of nutritional parameters during a 5-year follow-up in patients treated with sequential long-hour hemodialysis.

Progressive nutritional impairment has been recently reported during conventional hemodialysis (HD) treatment. We studied the nutritional parameters during a 5-year follow-up in HD patients. Thirty-three patients (15F/18M; 65 years old at the study start) filled out a 3-day food questionnaire once a year between 1995 and 1999 (study group). Twenty patients, who did not fill out the food records during this period served as a control group (control group). The food record was run by the renal dietician using a dedicated software, providing daily energy and protein intakes (DEI and DPI). Serum albumin, normalized protein equivalent of nitrogen appearance (nPNA), and postdialysis body weight (BW) at the time of food record were collected in the study group and from the patient chart in the control group. The energy intake in the study group and the protein intake in both groups were close to the recommended intakes in ESRD patients. Protein intake assessed from food questionnaire or from urea kinetics were not statistically different. Using ANOVA for repeated measures, no difference along the 5 years was found for daily energy intake, daily protein intake, nPNA, and BW in the study group. The BW and nPNA remained stable in the control group. Hence, this study does not confirm the progressive nutritional impairment reported in the HEMO study, whereas the patients' age and vintage are largely higher in the present study. The role of a large dialysis dose in maintaining nutritional status in HD patients is discussed.

Aged↗

Is there a magic in long nocturnal dialysis?

Long 3 X 8 h/week hemodialysis (HD) has been used without modification in Tassin since 35 years with very satisfactory morbidity and mortality results. It can be performed in the day or overnight. The observed good outcome is mainly due to lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than usually reported in HD. This, in turn, is due to the good control of blood pressure (BP) and of serum phosphate level. The control of BP results from the strict extracellular volume normalization using an adequate ultrafiltration and a low salt diet. High doses of small and middle molecules lead to a satisfactory nutrition, correction of anemia, control of serum phosphate and potassium with minimal needs for medications. The treatment is cost-effective. It provides an optimal dialysis i.e. it corrects as perfectly as possible each abnormality of renal failure. Overnight dialysis is the most logical way of delivering long HD with the lowest possible hindrance on patient's life. Due to the change in case mix a decreasing number of patients are apt or willing to go on overnight dialysis; education to autonomy is more difficult, but the benefits are still there.

Adult↗

Volume control, blood pressure and cardiovascular function. Lessons from hemodialysis treatment.

The balance of sodium, through its dietary intake and renal excretion, determines extracellular fluid volume (ECV). Chronic renal failure and dialysis patients present with a positive sodium balance and increased ECV. The consequences are systemic hypertension and vascular and cardiac remodelling, especially left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). High blood pressure (BP) and LVH increase the mortality risk of dialysis patients. Correction of ECV overload with ultrafiltration has led to the dry weight concept, which is the postdialysis body weight that allows BP to remain normal until the next dialysis session, without the need for antihypertensive medication and despite interdialytic weight gain. Blood pressure is the key indicator of ECV and is used to set the body weight target at each dialysis session. Normalization of BP indicates normalization of ECV, usually with a lag-time. Shortening dialysis time, which increases intradialytic morbidity, compromises the achievement of dry weight and normalization of ECV. Such intradialytic events may also lead to an increase in dialysate sodium concentration, which causes thirst, and greater interdialytic weight gain, positive sodium balance and worsening BP. These complications have led to the development of other tools for ECV assessment, such as inferior vena cava diameter, bioimpedance, and blood volume monitoring; their usefulness is discussed.

Animals↗

Hypertension control with daily dialysis.

Hypertension is present in 60-90% of patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and it is an important cause of cardiovascular (CV) mortality and morbidity. Frequent and prolonged HD has been uniformly shown to control hypertension in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients more effectively than conventional HD. The etiology of hypertension is predominantly volume dependent, but in a subset of patients increased renin, sympathetic overactivity, and endothelial dysfunction may play a role. Intradialytic hypotension precludes attainment of dry weight and hence optimal control of hypertension in conventional HD is challenging. Frequent and prolonged dialysis with gentle and persistent ultrafiltration allows time for refilling of the intravascular compartment and permits normalization of extracellular volume. It is also possible that intensive dialysis enables removal of pressor molecules and improves endothelial function. Improved blood pressure control translates into regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients on daily HD. Thus prolonged and frequent dialysis permits better control of hypertension via volume and volume-independent mechanisms and also improves cardiac geometry.

Humans↗

Long 3 x 8 hr dialysis: a three-decade summary.

A long hemodialysis (HD), 3 x 8 hours/week, has been used without significant modification in Tassin for 35 years with excellent morbidity and mortality results. It can be performed during the day or overnight. The relatively good survival is mainly due to a lower cardiovascular mortality than usually reported in dialysis patients. This in turn is mainly due to the good control of blood pressure (BP) including drug-free hypertension control and low incidence of intradialytic hypotension. This control of BP is probably the result of the tight extracellular volume normalization (dry weight), although one cannot exclude the effect of other factors such as serum phosphorus control well achieved using long dialysis. The high dose of small and even more of middle molecules is another essential virtue of long dialysis, leading to good nutrition, correction of anemia, control of serum phosphate and potassium with low doses of medications and providing a very cost-effective treatment. In 2002 one must aim at optimal rather than just adequate dialysis. Optimal dialysis needs to correct as perfectly as possible each and every abnormality due to renal failure. It can be achieved using longer (or more frequent) sessions. Overnight dialysis is the most logical way of implementing long HD with the lowest possible hindrance on patient's life. Due to the change in case mix a decreasing number of patients are able or willing to go on overnight dialysis, education to be autonomous is more difficult, but the benefit is still there.

Adult↗