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Biomedical subjects

D von Herrath

Publications and source records attributed to D von Herrath.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

The very elderly dialysis patient: indication and discontinuation of dialysis.

1. When the current available data in the literature is summarized it becomes evident that the majority of it supports the position that it is, at least for medical reasons, not advisable to exclude patients over the age of 80 years from chronic dialysis. 2. It is correct to say that the refusal of dialysis therapy for elderly dialysis patients would lead to a not insignificant cutting of costs, although elderly patients are not as 'expensive' as younger dialysis patients. 3. The decision to exclude patients over 80 from dialysis treatment is difficult, in our opinion, to support ethically. 4. The refusal of therapy by a dialysis patient--independent of his age--can only occur with his/her consent, as long as the patient is clearly conscious of the decision. 5. Should the patient no longer be in the condition to exercise his/her autonomy, and there is no AD, the Surrogate's Court must be consulted. 6. AD can be seen as helpful, since they not only make the decisions for physicians easier, but also because they can be seen as an act of care for family members. 7. Whenever dialysis therapy is discontinued the problematic nature of so-called essential care should be carefully considered, especially if no clear position has been taken in an AD.

Advance Directives↗
PubMed1998

The elderly dialysis patient: management of the hospital stay.

Our data show that survival times in elderly patients can be achieved, which justify the strain of the therapy on the patient, the medical effort and financial expense. It is therefore not justifiable to withhold dialysis from a person who requires it on the basis of age. It is also wrong to reduce the therapeutic endeavours to a minimum and describe these then as 'kinder' to the patient. It is to be feared that such a treatment regimen leads to a shorter survival time and simultaneously to a decreased quality of life. Particularly in view of the person's advanced age, it would seem that we are obligated to treat them with the highest quality care so that the remaining time is not only extended, but is filled with life.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Is the choice of membrane important for patients with acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis?

It has recently been reported that patients with acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis have an improved recovery of renal function and a higher survival rate when the dialysis treatments are performed with a biocompatible membrane rather than a bioincompatible membrane. Our data, obtained in 57 patients with acute renal failure, do not support these findings since neither the mortality nor the required number of dialysis sessions could be influenced by using a biocompatible membrane. The survival rate was similar in both groups (64 versus 72%), and renal function was regained in both groups after 6 dialysis sessions. We conclude that when reviewing the literature as well as other factors, the underlying clinical condition or the skill of the physicians is probably more important than the theoretical superiority of biocompatible membranes.

APACHE↗
PubMed1992

Reduced risk of hypercalcemia for hemodialysis patients by administering calcitriol at night.

Renal osteodystrophy therapy in dialysis patients with calcitriol and intestinal phosphate binders containing calcium entails the risk of hypercalcemia. A study was performed using 35 hemodialysis patients to see whether the time of day when calcitriol is administered influences the incidence of hypercalcemia. It was shown that simply by administering at night (11:00 PM), the occurrence of hypercalcemia was significantly reduced. While greater than 80% of patients developed hypercalcemia when calcitriol was administered in the morning, when administered at night, this figure was only 50% (P less than 0.013). At the same time, the extent of hypercalcemia when calcitriol was administered at night was significantly lower than when it was administered in the morning. The incidence of hypercalcemia occurred regardless of the type of phosphate binder containing calcium used, whether it was calcium acetate or calcium carbonate. In addition, hypercalcemic episodes were always associated with hyperphosphatemia. On the basis of the above information, it would be expedient to administer calcitriol at night to dialysis patients, in order to reduce the risk of hypercalcemia and to preserve the hypophosphatemic effect of the applied intestinal phosphate binders.

Acetates↗
PubMed1991

The treatment of uraemic hyperphosphataemia with calcium acetate and calcium carbonate: a comparative study.

A comparative study of long-term haemodialysis patients investigated the effects of calcium acetate and calcium carbonate on concentrations of serum phosphate, calcium, and parathyroid hormone. It was demonstrated that both substances led to a significant decrease in phosphate and serum parathyroid hormone. Administration of calcium acetate reduced the serum phosphate concentration in 7 weeks from an initial value of 2.08 +/- 0.53 mmol/l to 1.51 +/- 0.39 mmol/l (P less than 0.01). Following a 1-week wash-out period, calcium carbonate reduced the serum phosphate concentration in the same patients from 1.99 +/- 0.62 mmol/l to 1.34 +/- 0.40 mmol/l (P less than 0.01). Of particular significance, however, is the fact that in relation to daily elementary calcium intake, calcium acetate was a considerably more effective binder of intestinal phosphate than calcium carbonate. During administration of calcium acetate only 1.02 g of elementary calcium were required daily in order to reduce the serum phosphate concentration. The same patients, however, required 1.88 g of elementary calcium during calcium carbonate therapy. Complementary studies investigated the influence of an accompanying calcitriol medication. In this instance, too, calcium acetate was shown to be more effective; although the patients developed hypercalcaemia with calcium acetate, this happened more often with calcium carbonate. In summary it can be said that daily calcium loading of the uraemic organism under calcium acetate therapy is reduced by nearly half as compared to calcium carbonate therapy, and that this can be achieved with the same effective decrease of the serum phosphate concentration.

Acetates↗
PubMed1990

Calcium ketovaline as new therapy for uremic hyperphosphatemia.

Since treatment of uremic hyperphosphatemia still represents a major problem and phosphate-binding agents carry the well-known risk of aluminum intoxication, we carried out a study to determine whether calcium ketovaline, a keto acid containing calcium, would show phosphate-binding effects comparable to those obtained with a mixture of amino acids and calcium salts of ketoanalogues tested previously. In vitro as well as in vivo studies show convincingly that calcium ketovaline is a valuable intestinal phosphate binder. Dialysis patients treated for 6 weeks showed a significant (p less than 0.05) decrease in serum phosphate from 2.36 +/- 0.19 to 1.81 +/- 0.16 mmol/l.

Hemiterpenes↗
PubMed1989

Dietary treatment as seen by German nephrologists. Results of a questionnaire.

The majority of German nephrologists consider a protein restriction for patients with advanced renal failure as necessary. However, there was no consensus with regard to the diet, which should be finally applied. It was of further interest that the majority of physicians believe that only 50% of their patients adhere consistently to the diet.

Dietary Proteins↗
PubMed1989

Calcium salts of ketoacids as a new treatment strategy for uremic hyperphosphatemia.

Hyperphosphatemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism are regular complications in patients suffering from end-stage renal failure. Aluminum-containing drugs are widely used to control serum phosphate, but this therapy carries the well-known risk of aluminum toxicity. Previously we demonstrated that a mixture of ketoacids is very effective in lowering increased serum phosphate and serum PTH levels. Recent studies to clarify the underlying mechanisms whereby these compounds lower serum phosphate revealed that ketoacids act as intestinal phosphate binders. In balance studies we demonstrated that intestinal phosphorus uptake decreased in normal subjects (decrease of absorption during ingestion: 0.7-3.14 mmol/day). Additional in vitro studies not only confirmed the in vivo results but also showed that ketoacids are as efficient as calcium carbonate although they provide less calcium. It is of further interest that ketoacids reached their greatest binding efficiency when the pH is 7.0, whereas calcium carbonate binds phosphate predominantly when the pH is 2.0 or 5.0. Ketoacids represent a further therapy to lower serum phosphate in uremia. As they provide less calcium than calcium carbonate, they could be considered as an advantageous, less dangerous alternative.

Absorption↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of uremic hyperphosphatemia--is there still a need for aluminum salts?

Aluminum-containing phosphate binders have been widely employed in the past in the management of uremic hyperphosphatemia. However, an increasing number of reports on aluminum toxicity has stimulated efforts to replace this therapy by safer methods. The aim of the present review is to critically evaluate other treatment strategies. It appears that aluminum-containing phosphate binders should no longer be considered the treatment of choice for controlling uremic hyperphosphatemia. Calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, magnesium carbonate and a mixture of ketoanalogues and amino acids present important therapeutical alternatives which could replace aluminum-containing phosphate binders in the majority of patients. However, it is mandatory, as these therapies also carry some risks, that side effects are detected early.

Alum Compounds↗
PubMed1988

Good biocompatibility of the polyamide hemofilter.

Chronic hemofiltration (HF) is now a well-established method, especially for elderly uremic patients and those suffering from cardiovascular problems. This is due to the fact that chronic HF offers superior treatment comfort with less hypotensive episodes, vomiting, muscle cramps and febrile reactions. Apart from the different blood purification techniques involved in chronic HF compared to hemodialysis (i.e. convection versus diffusion), it might well be that the better treatment comfort is attributable to a certain extent to the polyamide HF membrane used in our HF treatments. We studied different biocompatibility parameters and received the following data: (a) leukocytes and thrombocytes remained unchanged during a treatment session; (b) elastase increased slightly but there was no difference between the polyamide and polycarbonate membrane, and (c) arterial and venous concentrations of C5a and C3d remained almost unchanged. The superior treatment comfort and better vascular stability of HF over hemodialysis might also be due to the improved biocompatibility of the applied hemofilter as the polyamide membrane induces no changes in different biocompatibility parameters such as leukocytes, thrombocytes, C5a or C3d.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed1988

Glomerular filtration rate in response to an acute protein load.

The effect of a protein load on the glomerular filtration rate (measured as creatinine clearance) was studied in normal subjects, healthy vegetarians, patients with advanced liver disease, patients with moderate renal failure and in normal volunteers being pretreated with aspirin or sulindac. Only patients with liver disease were not capable of increasing their glomerular filtration rate after the protein challenge, a finding which suggests that the liver might be of importance for the adequate renal reserve. It is of note that neither the application of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs nor the existence of a moderate renal failure modify the response to a protein load.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗