Title:Cardiovascular Benefits of Extended-Time Nocturnal Hemodialysis
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Author(s): Athanasios Roumeliotis, Stefanos Roumeliotis, Christopher Chan and Andreas Pierratos*
Affiliation:
- Humber River Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto,Canada
Keywords:
Cardiovascular disease, cardiac morphology, carbamylated albumin, home hemodialysis, intensive hemodialysis,
myocardial stunning, nocturnal hemodialysis, vascular calcification.
Abstract: Hemodialysis (HD) remains the most utilized treatment for End-Stage Kidney Disease
(ESKD) globally, mainly as conventional HD administered in 4 h sessions thrice weekly. Despite advances
in HD delivery, patients with ESKD carry a heavy cardiovascular morbidity and mortality burden.
This is associated with cardiac remodeling, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), myocardial stunning,
hypertension, decreased heart rate variability, sleep apnea, coronary calcification and endothelial
dysfunction. Therefore, intensive HD regimens closer to renal physiology were developed. They include
longer, more frequent dialysis or both. Among them, Nocturnal Hemodialysis (NHD), carried out at
night while asleep, provides efficient dialysis without excessive interference with daily activities. This
regimen is closer to the physiology of the native kidneys. By providing increased clearance of small and
middle molecular weight molecules, NHD can ameliorate uremic symptoms, control hyperphosphatemia
and improve quality of life by allowing a liberal diet and free time during the day. Lastly, it improves
reproductive biology leading to successful pregnancies. Conversion from conventional to NHD is followed
by improved blood pressure control with fewer medications, regression of LVH, improved LV
function, improved sleep apnea, and stabilization of coronary calcifications. These beneficial effects
have been associated, among others, with better extracellular fluid volume control, improved endothelial-
dependent vasodilation, decreased total peripheral resistance, decreased plasma norepinephrine levels
and restoration of heart rate variability. Some of these effects represent improvements in outcomes
used as surrogates of hard outcomes related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In this review,
we consider the cardiovascular effects of NHD.