Wearable Hemodialysis Device Shows Promising Results

A wearable hemodialysis device aimed at improving the quality of life of kidney failure patients has had some promising results in a pilot trial, according to a new report.

Researchers at University College London Royal Free and University College Medical School (UCL, RF&UCMS; London, UK) looked at eight volunteers, five men and three women (average age of 52), who suffered from end-stage kidney failure. They were established on regular hemodialysis and had a wearable hemodialysis device fitted for four to eight hours. The patients were given unfractionated heparin for anticoagulation, as they would be for standard hemodialysis.

Study results showed that no significant cardiovascular changes or adverse changes in serum electrolytes were detected; acid-base balance in the patient's blood was not affected either. Rates of blood flow, dialysate flow, and urea and creatine clearance were all acceptable, although they were all significantly lower than in conventional dialysis. None of the eight patients had any complaints about the treatment, and they were all able to sleep without difficulty with the device on. All eight said they would recommend the device to other patients.

The researchers explained that the longer the patients wore the device the differing flow rate became less of a concern. This finding was due to the fact that a long hemodialysis period at a low flow rate can clear as much, or even more, blood toxins as a shorter period with a higher flow rate experienced three times a week in conventional dialysis. The report was published in the December 15, 2007, issue of The Lancet.

"The device has the potential to become a practical means of delivering extended and more frequent dialysis to patients with end-stage kidney failure,” concluded Dr. Andrew Davenport, M.D., from the Royal Free and University College, and colleagues.

Approximately 1.3 million people globally have chronic kidney failure that requires either renal transplantation or dialysis; for such patients, the established treatment is hemodialysis. However, as their risk of cardiovascular disease is high, survival outlook remains poor; these survival rates can be improved if both the dose and frequency of dialysis is increased, from three times weekly to five times weekly, or even every day.


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Royal Free and University College Medical School