Does Incremental Initiation of Haemodialysis Preserve Native Kidney Function?

Overview

Patients who start haemodialysis usually retain some natural kidney function for months or years after starting dialysis. Even a small amount of this natural kidney function can be helpful in reducing the need for dietary and fluid restriction. There is also good evidence that retaining a small amount of natural kidney function may provide a survival benefit for patients on dialysis. Most patients who commence haemodialysis start three times per week for 3.5-4 hours per session, irrespective of the amount of natural kidney function they may have. An alternative approach used in some kidney units is to take account of the natural kidney function in prescribing the amount of dialysis. This may allow patients to start treatment needing to spend less time on dialysis or even to start just twice weekly. The amount of dialysis can be adjusted over time as natural kidney function declines. This is called "incremental haemodialysis". Both of these approaches are considered to be standard care although it is not known which approach is more beneficial to patients. There are some suggestions that the frequency of dialysis may influence the rate of decline of natural kidney function but this need to be tested in a large randomised study. To inform the design of such a study, a smaller scale feasibility study is required. We intend to randomise fifty new starters on haemodialysis with adequate natural kidney function into two groups - a group who will have dialysis prescribed in the standard fashion - three times weekly for 3.5-4 hours per session or a group who will have an incremental start beginning with twice weekly treatment. We will investigate how many patients have sufficient natural kidney function to be eligible, whether patients are willing to participate and continue in the study, compare the rate of loss of kidney function between groups, and ascertain whether this individualised dialysis approach is less intrusive to patients. The results will be used to design a larger definitive study.

This study is feasibility randomised controlled trial. 50 patients who have newly started on haemodialysis will be recruited into the study from 4 UK centres. Eligible patients will be approached prior to initiation of dialysis or after starting dialysis. The details of the study will be explained to them and a Patient Information sheet will be provided. Interested participants will be invited to the study and a written consent will be obtained. The participants will be randomly allocated to 2 groups. 1. Thrice weekly dialysis (control arm) 2. Incremental dialysis - Twice weekly dialysis to start with and slowly increasing the duration and frequency of dialysis to thrice weekly depending on their native kidney function. All participants will be monitored at least once monthly by performing dialysis related blood tests, urine tests, clinical evaluation, medications, weight, dialysis adequacy, adverse events. Questionnaire involving quality of life, mood, illness intrusiveness, functional status, cognitive function will also be performed. Participants will be recruited in the first year and all participants will be followed up for 12 months. All participants may withdraw at any time without any change in their dialysis care. To ensure independence, the University of Hertfordshire will perform randomisation, and assist with data monitoring and data analysis. A 6 month rate of loss of native kidney function between the 2 groups will be analysed.