Cardiovascular calcification in end-stage renal disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are common in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among dialysis patients are substantially higher than in the general population. The reasons for this high incidence are multiple. They include traditional factors such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, sodium overload, and elevated homocysteine levels as well as disturbances of mineral metabolism, specifically abnormalities in phosphorus and calcium homeostasis. This review will describe the specific cardiovascular complications related to calcifications in ESRD, the implications of the abnormalities of mineral metabolism in its pathogenesis and the current imaging techniques available for the detection of cardiovascular calcifications. Excess of calcium load contributes to the development of cardiac calcifications; therefore, alternative strategies to diminish exogenous calcium load should be considered in patients with ESRD.     

Insulin resistance and muscle wasting in non-diabetic end-stage renal disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance (IR) is prevalent in uraemia. Recent experimental studies suggested IR to be a central mechanism for uraemic malnutrition. However, it is not known whether IR is related to muscle wasting in non-diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. METHODS: We cross-sectionally assessed IR and muscle wasting in 21 non-diabetic ESRD patients who admitted for the initiation of dialysis. For the assessment of muscle wasting, lean body mass was measured (LBMm) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and compared with the estimated LBM (LBMe) from the prediction equation derived from healthy controls using the ratio of LBMm/LBMe. For measurement of IR, the homoeostasis model (HOMA-IR) was used. In addition, among patients who chose continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, muscle was sampled during catheter insertion from the rectus abdominis to measure 14-kDa actin fragments, a marker of muscle protein degradation. RESULTS: Patients with a low LBMm/LBMe ratio (<1.00) showed higher HOMA-IR and fat mass (FM) (% body weight) and lower LBM (% body weight) than those with a high LBMm/LBMe ratio (>or=1.00). LBMm/LBMe ratio was negatively correlated with HOMA-IR, regardless of obesity. By multiple regression analysis, HOMA-IR was an independent factor affecting LBMm/LBMe ratio. Furthermore, in the muscle samples, patients with high HOMA-IR had lower LBMm/LBMe ratios and stronger bands for the 14-kDa actin fragments than did patients with low HOMA-IR. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that IR seems to be associated with muscle wasting in non-diabetic ESRD patients.     

Unilateral renal cell carcinoma with coexistent renal disease: a rare cause of end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a disorder encompassing a wide spectrum of pathological renal lesions. Coexistence of unilateral RCC and associated pathology in the contralateral kidney is an unusual and challenging therapeutic dilemma that can result in renal failure. So far, data on unilateral RCC with chronic renal failure necessitating renal replacement therapy have not been published. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) from unilateral RCC, and to assess the associated pathology and possible pathogenic factors. METHODS: In 1999, a survey of the 350 patients treated by chronic dialysis in Asturias, Spain, was carried out to identify and collect clinical information on patients with primary unilateral RCC whilst on their renal replacement programme. RESULTS: Seven patients were identified as having ESRD and unilateral RCC, giving an incidence of 2% of patients treated by dialysis. There was a wide spectrum of associated disease and clinical presentation. All patients underwent radical or partial nephrectomy and were free of recurrence 6--64 months after surgery. Six patients were alive and free of malignancy recurrence for 6--30 months after the onset of haemodialysis. CONCLUSION: ESRD is rare in association with unilateral RCC, but does contribute to significant morbidity. However, the data presented here are encouraging and suggest that cancer-free survival with renal replacement therapy can be achieved in such patients.     

Outcome in patients with end-stage renal disease following heart or heart--lung transplantation receiving peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) complicates 5--10% of heart and heart--lung transplant patients. We report our experience of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in 17 such patients. METHODS: Between March 1995 and February 1999, 13 heart transplant and four heart--lung transplant patients (11 male, 6 female) joined our PD programme (10 continuous ambulatory PD, seven automated PD). Median time from heart or heart--lung transplantation to ESRD was 9 years (range 1--13 years), and median age at introduction of renal replacement therapy was 51 years (range 23--66 years). The frequency of exit-site infections, peritonitis, and PD survival (including technique failure and death) in the transplant group (TxP) was calculated retrospectively. These were compared with two contemporary control groups: PD patients immunosuppressed for other indications (ISP, n=19) and, all other patients recruited onto the PD programme (NISP, n=132). RESULTS: Median follow-up was 10 months (range 2--27 months) for TxP, 7 months (range 2--29 months) for ISP, and 14 months (range 1--48 months) for NISP groups. The frequency of exit-site infections was similar in each group: 1 in 26 months for TxP; 1 in 30 months for ISP, and 1 in 27 months for NISP (P=NS). The frequency of peritonitis was greater in the TxP group at 1 in 15 months, compared with 1 in 20 months for ISP and 1 in 29 months for NISP (TxP vs NISP, P<0.05). PD failure following infection was 23.5% for TxP, 10.5% for ISP, and 12.9% for NISP. Actuarial PD survival at 24 months was only 25.2% in the TxP group compared with 79% in the NISP group. There were no deaths related to immediate complications of PD. CONCLUSIONS: Increased risk of PD peritonitis and reduced PD survival is reported in this cohort of 17 heart and heart--lung recipients with ESRD. Nevertheless, for patients with severely impaired cardiac function, PD may still offer therapeutic advantage.     

Plasma ghrelin levels in patients undergoing haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Ghrelin has been characterized as a relevant physiologic regulator of appetite and body weight in humans. However, the potential relationships between ghrelin levels, inflammation and malnutrition in dialysis patients have not been adequately studied. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional design to study 20 haemodialysis (HD) and 21 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, and compared their plasma ghrelin (PGhr) levels with that of an age-matched control group. We also explored correlations between ghrelin and selected hormonal, renal adequacy, nutritional and inflammation markers in both groups. RESULTS: PGhr levels were higher in HD (median 119.8 pg/ml, range 71.1-333.7, P = 0.001) and PD (99.3, range 45.8-578.5, P = 0.045) patients than in healthy controls (78, range 29-158) (HD vs PD, not significant). Ghrelin levels were strongly and inversely correlated with age (r = -0.46, P = 0.02 for patients; r = -0.61, P = 0.001 for controls). Except for a positive correlation between ghrelin and growth hormone (r = 0.48, P = 0.002), univariate analysis failed to detect associations between PGhr and the measured hormonal values, renal adequacy, nutritional indicators and markers of inflammation. However, multivariate analysis revealed significant inverse correlations between PGhr levels and nutritional markers, including subjective global assessment (P = 0.013), albumin (P = 0.001), transferrin (P = 0.01) and protein nitrogen appearance (as an estimate of protein intake) (P = 0.035), after controlling for the confounding effect of age. CONCLUSIONS: PGhr levels were moderately and similarly increased in patients undergoing HD and PD. Age was a strong determinant of PGhr levels, both in uraemic patients and in healthy controls. Dialysis adequacy, residual renal function and inflammation did not appear to influence ghrelin levels in these patients. The negative correlation between PGhr and nutritional markers suggests that low dietary intake causes increases in ghrelin secretion in dialysis patients.     

女性终末期肾病患者疾病体验质性研究的Meta整合

目的 系统整合女性终末期肾病患者疾病体验,为医护人员优化过渡期护理,改善患者生活质量提供参考。方法 计算机检索PsycINFO、PubMed、Embase、CINAHL和中国知网、中国生物医学文献数据库、万方数据库,收集关于女性终末期肾病患者疾病体验的质性研究,检索时限为建库至2022年12月。运用JBI质性研究质量评价标准评价纳入文献的质量,采用汇集性整合方法对结果进行整合。结果 共纳入8篇文献,提炼出28个完好明确的研究结果,将相似结果归纳为8个新的类别,并综合成3个整合结果：过渡期疾病体验、女性角色功能受损、妊娠风险决策。结论 医护人员应重视女性终末期肾病患者疾病体验,优化过渡期护理,提升患者角色适应水平,改善育龄期患者妊娠决策辅助,最终提升患者长期生活质量。     

Effect of peritoneal dialysis versus hemodialysis on renal anemia in renal in end-stage disease patients: a meta-analysis

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) on renal anemia (RA) in renal disease patients by a meta-analysis. Relevant studies published before June 2015 were searched. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to evaluate the effect of HD and PD on RA based on five indexes: hemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin saturation index, serum albumin, and parathyroid hormone. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessment were conducted to evaluate the stability and reliability of our results. A total of fourteen eligible studies with 1103 cases underwent HD and 625 cases underwent PD were used for this meta-analysis. There were no significant difference for levels of hemoglobin (SMD?=??0.23, 95% CI: ?0.74 to 0.28), ferritin (SMD?=?0.01, 95% CI: ?0.59 to 0.62), parathyroid hormone (SMD?=?0.11, 95% CI: ?1.53 to 1.75) and transferrin saturation index (SMD?=??0.06, 95% CI: ?0.67 to 0.56) between HD and PD group. However, the content of serum albumin in HD group was much more than that in PD group (SMD?=?1.58, 95% CI: 0.35 to 2.81). Neither of the included studies could reverse the pooled side effect and Egger’s test demonstrated no publication bias. Both of the two dialysis strategies have a similar effect on RA in renal disease patients.     

Haematocrit and the risk of developing end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia is common in patients with renal failure; however, it is not known whether haematocrit level in the general population is a predictor for developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted to assess the development of ESRD within a population of 71 802 subjects (37 190 men and 34 612 women), 20-99 years, in Okinawa, Japan. Haematocrit data were collected between April 1983 and March 1984 and the subjects were followed forward to the year 2000 whether they were identified in the Okinawa Dialysis Study registry for identification of ESRD. Multivariate logistic analyses were performed to analyse the influence of haematocrit on the development of ESRD after adjusting for age, sex, blood pressure, body mass index, proteinuria and haematuria. In a subgroup of the cohort, similar analyses were repeated adjusting for estimated creatinine clearance by the method of Cockcroft and Gault. RESULTS: The mean (SD) level of haematocrit at the time of screening was 45.3% (3.3%) for men and 38.8% (3.2%) for women. During the 17-year follow-up, 269 patients (171 men and 98 women) were identified with ESRD. The mean time to onset of ESRD was 130.4 (53.6) months. The adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the influence of haematocrit (%) on the development of ESRD was 0.991 and 0.988-0.995 (P<0.0001), suggesting that the lower haematocrit, the greater was the risk of developing ESRD. This finding was repeated in the subgroup analysis that included calculated creatinine clearance (adjusted odds ratio 0.991 and 95% CI 0.984-0.997, P=0.0057). In women, the adjusted odds ratio for haematocrits of 20.0-34.9% was 3.086 (CI 1.770-5.376, P<0.0001) when compared with the reference haematocrits of 35.0-39.9%. In men, the adjusted odds ratio for haematocrits of 25.0-39.9% was 1.927 (CI 1.418-2.625, P<0.0001) when compared with the reference haematocrits of 45.0-49.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with low haematocrits, <40% for men and <35% for women, have a significantly increased risk of ESRD.     

School adjustment of children with end-stage renal disease

We examined adjustment to school of children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and the psychological condition of their mothers; 30 children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), 35 children with a transplant and 33 healthy children were studied. A factorial ANOVA statistic found that the mean scores for non-academic problems (psychological factors) differed significantly across the three groups, being highest in CAPD children and lowest in healthy children. No significant differences between CAPD and transplant children were found for school maladjustment with academic problems, although the prevalence differed significantly across the groups, being highest in transplant children and lowest in healthy children. The mothers of children with ESRD were prone to feel various anxieties and dependency.     

Mobilization of lead from bone in end-stage renal failure patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: It is now recognized that long-term exposure to even low levels of lead may increase bone lead content. Lead can then be released in toxicologically significant amounts during critical states of increased bone turnover. METHODS: Two patients with end-stage renal failure, one on haemodialysis and the other on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), had been exposed to lead and developed secondary hyperparathyroidism. An edetate calcium disodium (EDTA) test was performed in combination with haemofiltration or CAPD before and after parathyroidectomy. RESULTS: Before parathyroidectomy, both patients had low delta aminolaevulinic acid dehydrase (ALA-D) and high concentrations of chelated lead. After parathyroidectomy, there was a dramatic decrease in chelated lead and the ALA-D returned to normal. CONCLUSION: Secondary hyperparathyroidism increases mobilization of bone lead in dialysis patients with an elevated lead burden. This may cause toxic effects.     

National survey of palliative care in end-stage renal disease in the UK.

BACKGROUND: Palliative care for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a neglected aspect of nephrology. We carried out this survey to establish the current pattern of provision of palliative care for ESRD in the UK. METHODS: An anonymous but numbered questionnaire concerning local palliative care provision was sent to clinical directors of all 69 UK renal units. RESULTS: All the questionnaires were returned. Only 27 (39%) units employ nursing or Professions Allied to Medicine (PAM) staff with palliative care for ESRD patients as a specified part of their role. In 19 of these units, staff spend <4 h per week concerned with palliative care and only five units have staff working for >12 h a week in this role. Fifty-five (80%) units do not have a written protocol for palliative care. Anaemic ESRD patients with an expected survival of >3 months receive blood transfusion in 59 (86%) units, intravenous iron in 61 (88%) units and erythropoietin in 63 (91%) units. Only 37 (54%) units kept a record of patients seen by the unit staff but deemed not suitable for dialysis. CONCLUSION: There is a significant variation in provision of palliative care services across the UK. In some areas, access to palliative care is restricted to patients with malignant disease, and ESRD patients are excluded.     

Oxalate removal by hemodialysis in end-stage renal disease

Because of mounting evidence of precipitation of calcium oxalate in the soft tissues of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on maintenance hemodialysis, the plasma oxalate concentrations and calculated dialysis removal of oxalate were studied in seven patients without evidence of either primary or absorption hyperoxaluria prior to ESRD. A reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatographic method was developed to quantitate serum oxalate. Mean value +/- SE in four healthy controls was 28 +/- 5 mumol/L, and in the seven patients it was 187 +/- 15 mumol/L predialysis and 89 +/- 11 mumol/L postdialysis. Oxalate deposition in the soft tissues of ESRD patients is the consequence of sustained hyperoxalemia. Oxalate removal by dialysis was calculated from the four-hour oxalate clearance. Since the ionic radii of phosphate and oxalate are similar, total oxalate clearance was calculated midpoint of dialysis. Mean oxalate removal/dialysis was 3.01 +/- 0.283 mmol. On a daily basis this value was 1.645 +/- 0.155 mmol, which is about threefold the normal oxalate excretion rate. It is not significantly different from the excretion rate in absorption oxalurias but is less than that in primary hyperoxaluria. Therefore, it is concluded that hyperoxalemia in ESRD results from loss of renal excretion, failure of hemodialysis to remove enough oxalate to maintain a normal serum concentration, and increased intestinal absorption of oxalate and/or increased endogenous production.     

Anterior urethral valve as a cause of end-stage renal disease

Although posterior urethral valves are predominant as a cause of obstructive uropathy in children, anterior urethral valves may also appear as the underlying etiologic factor in end-stage renal disease that results from obstruction. Two cases are presented of anterior urethral valve patients that were admitted with end-stage renal disease. The first case was successfully treated with diverticulectomy and urethral reconstruction in preparation for renal transplantation. The second case, however, had been on cystostomy drainage for 6 years and also had a contracted bladder. A more extensive lower urinary tract reconstruction was delayed. Children with poor stream and recurrent infections should be evaluated carefully and anterior urethral valve or diverticula should be considered in differential diagnosis of obstructive lesions.     

The relationship of plasma ghrelin level to energy regulation, feeding and left ventricular function in non-diabetic haemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Inadequate plasma ghrelin levels determine the suppression of appetite, nutritional state and morbidity. We investigated the correlation between plasma ghrelin levels and appetite, nutritional status and cardiovascular morbidity in maintenance haemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: We measured plasma ghrelin levels at 2 h intervals during a 24 h period in 22 non-diabetic HD patients, who were grouped into normal intake or disturbed intake according to subjective global assessments, and in six healthy controls. RESULTS: A significant positive correlation existed between the 24 h plasma ghrelin profile and most time-specific plasma ghrelin levels in non-diabetic HD patients. Ghrelin levels in the abnormal intake group were higher than those in the normal intake group. A significant positive correlation existed between ghrelin and left ventricle functions, including left ventricle mass index (r = 0.75, P = 0.008), left ventricle mass (r = 0.57, P = 0.03) and interventricular septum thickness (r = 0.70, P = 0.009). An inverse correlation existed between plasma ghrelin and right ventricular dimension (r = -0.45, P = 0.035). Body mass index (r = -0.64, P = 0.033) and body fat content (r = -0.619, P = 0.002) had significant negative correlations with plasma ghrelin. CONCLUSIONS: Anorexia was found in patients with higher plasma ghrelin levels. Plasma ghrelin levels in non-diabetic HD patients showed a significant correlation with left ventricular function.     

Bullous dermatosis of end-stage renal disease: a possible association between abnormal porphyrin metabolism and aluminium

BACKGROUND.: Bullous dermatosis (BD) is becoming increasingly recognizedin patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It is clinicallyreminiscent of porphyria cutanea tarda, but its detailed pathogenesisremains unclear. Studies have shown increased porphyrin levelsin dialysis patients, and this may partly explain the skin lesionsand photosensitivity evident in these patients. In experimentalstudies, aluminium can induce various abnormalities in porphyrinand haem metabolism. This study investigated a possible involvementof porphyrin metabolism and aluminium in the development ofbullous dermatosis in chronically dialysed patients. METHODS.: Three groups were studied (12 healthy controls; 12 patientson chronic dialysis without BD and six patients on chronic dialysiswith BD). Clinical characteristics of these patients were evaluatedand the levels of plasma porphyrins, erythrocyte porphyrinsand enzymes involved in the porphyrin chain were determined. RESULTS.: The patients with BD were predominantly male, 50% had ADPKD,all had been on dialysis for a long period of time (7.8±2.1years) and all were anuric. CAPD and haemodialysis were usedequally in the affected patients. Aminolaevulinic dehydrataseactivity was significantly reduced in all ESRD patients (892±47versus 302±36 versus 408±37 nmol/ml RBC/h). Plasmauroporphyrins as well as RBC proto-porphyrin were significantlyelevated in ESRD patients (1.7±0.6 versus 21.6±4.7versus 43.4±12.0 nmol/l) and (1.43±0.14 versus2.4±0.42 versus 4.19±2.44 µmol/l) respectively.Serum Al levels were markedly elevated in patients with BD (28.3±10.0µg/l). Both uroporphyrin and protoporphyrin were significantlymore elevated in ESRD patients with BD compared to ESRD patientswithout BD. CONCLUSIONS.: Elevated plasma porphyrin levels in ESRD patients are causedby lack of urinary excretion and the inability of haemodialysisand CAPD therapy to remove them. These elevated porphyrin levelsmay lead to the development of porphyria cutanea tarda symptoms.Elevations in plasma uroporphyrin, red blood cell protoporphyrin,and elevated Al levels suggest a possible relationship betweenan Al ‘load’ and abnormal porphyrin metabolism inthe development of overt skin disease in the dialysed patient.     

Sleep disorders in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis therapy.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing dialysis therapy suffer from sleep disturbances. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep disorders in a large population of uraemic patients recruited from 20 different dialytic centres in Triveneto. METHODS: 883 patients on maintenance dialysis were enrolled in the study. Demographic, lifestyle, renal and dialysis data were recorded. Renal parameters were compared with the database of the Veneto Dialysis Register. Using a self-administered questionnaire we assessed the presence of the following sleep disorders: insomnia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), possible narcolepsy, sleepwalking, nightmares and possible rapid eye movement behaviour disorders (RBD). Moreover, in order to determine the prevalence of sleep disturbances and the possible effect of demographic or clinical data on sleep, we divided our population into two groups: with (SLEEP+) and without (SLEEP-) sleep disorders. RESULTS: The questionnaire revealed the presence of insomnia (69.1%), RLS (18.4%), OSAS (23.6%), EDS (11.8%), possible narcolepsy (1.4%), sleepwalking (2.1%), nightmares (13.3%) and possible RBD (2.3%). Eighty percent demonstrated SLEEP+, having at least one sleep disorder. Independent risk factors for sleep disorders were advanced age (P<0.001), excessive alcohol intake (P<0.04), cigarette smoking (P<0.006), polyneuropathy (P<0.05) and dialysis shift in the morning (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire showed a high presence of sleep disruption in dialytic populations. Awareness by Italian nephrologists regarding sleep disruption seems to be insufficient. Our data might help nephrologists to deal with uraemic patients with possible sleep disorders. Concerning the high prevalence of possible narcolepsy, further studies using polysomnographic records are necessary to confirm our results.     

Predictors of cardiovascular events in patients with end-stage renal disease: an analysis from the Fosinopril in dialysis study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular events (CVE) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. These patients are often excluded from CV clinical trials, and the prognostic factors associated with CVE in patients with ESRD have not been fully explored. A risk prediction model was created from the FOSIDIAL trial to identify factors predictive of CVE and to evaluate the relative strength of known predictors when considered together in a multivariate model. METHODS: FOSIDIAL was a prospective, randomized, double-blind study with 2-year follow-up and CVE adjudication. The study enrolled 397 patients with ESRD and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). CVE included cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke, revascularization, heart failure hospitalization, resuscitated cardiac arrest and confirmed stroke. The model was built using a forward selection of all baseline variables. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to identify factors with an indirect association with CVE. RESULTS: CV history was the most important prognostic factor, followed by C-reactive protein (CRP), left ventricular mass index, diabetes and age. Smoking, low HDL, female gender and Kt/V were indirectly associated with CVE. CONCLUSION: Prior CV disease, elevated CRP, LVH, diabetes or advanced age identifies patients at the highest risk for CVE. These data may be useful to detect high risk patients, to define potential targets for pharmacologic intervention, and to plan future studies in ESRD. Further research is needed to identify effective approaches that reduce the rate of CVE in these patients.     

Associations between comorbidities, treatment choice and outcome in the elderly with end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: New patients treated for end-stage renal disease are increasingly elderly: in France, 38% are 75 years or older. The best treatment choices for the elderly are still debated. METHODS: We studied case-mix factors associated with choice of initial dialysis modality and 2-year survival in the 3512 patients aged 75 years or older who started dialysis between 2002 and 2005 and were included in the French REIN registry. RESULTS: Overall, 18% began with peritoneal dialysis (PD), 50% with planned haemodialysis (planned HD) and 32% with unplanned HD, that is, HD that started on an emergency basis. At least one comorbid condition was reported for 85%, and three or more for 36%, but case-mix varied with age. PD was chosen significantly more often than planned HD for the oldest (> or =85) compared with the youngest (75-79) patients: odds ratio 2.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.8), in those with congestive heart failure: 1.8 (1.5-2.3) and severe behavioural disorder: 2.2 (1.3-3.5), but less often for obese patients: 0.5 (0.3-0.8) and smokers: 0.4 (0.2-0.9). Two-year survival rates were 58, 52 and 39% in patients aged 75-79, 80-84 and > or =85, respectively. Compared with planned HD, unplanned HD was associated with a risk of mortality 50% higher, and PD with a risk 30% higher, independent of patient case-mix. CONCLUSION: PD is a common treatment option in French elderly patients, but our study suggests the need for caution in the long-term use. The high frequency of unplanned HD would require further attention.