| Theme | Issues of Evidence-based Adequate Dialysis Therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Combined peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) therapies | |
| Publish Date | 2007/09 | |
| Author | Kenji Arizono | Department of Nephrology, Kumamoto Chuo Hospital |
| [ Summary ] | PD and HD modalities should be seen as complementary rather than as competitive because of their specific properties. PD tends to maintain residual renal function longer than HD. On the other hand, it is well accepted that adequate levels of dialysis are difficult to achieve in PD patients without residual renal function. Combined therapy employing PD and HD is an useful method for providing adequate dialysis. Mortality studies comparing PD and HD show that PD is associated with equivalent or better survival rates in the first 1 - 2 years and thereafter HD is associated with better survival rates. In view of the correlation between the adequacy of these two modalities and patient survival, timely transfer from PD to HD will improve prognoses when treatment targets cannot be achieved. Combined therapy is method to provide adequate dialysis treatment. | |