Automatic adaptive system dialysis for hemodialysis-associated hypotension and intolerance: a noncontrolled multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND

Hemodialysis is complicated by a high incidence of intradialytic hypotension and disequilibrium symptoms caused by hypovolemia and a decrease in extracellular osmolarity. Automatic adaptive system dialysis (AASD) is a proprietary dialysis system that provides automated elaboration of dialysate and ultrafiltration profiles based on the prescribed decrease in body weight and sodium content.

STUDY DESIGN

A noncontrolled (single arm), multicenter, prospective, clinical trial.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 55 patients with intradialytic hypotension or disequilibrium syndrome in 15 dialysis units were studied over a 1-month interval using standard treatment (642 sessions) followed by 6 months using AASD (2,376 sessions).

INTERVENTION

AASD (bicarbonate dialysis with dialysate sodium concentration and ultrafiltration rate profiles determined by the automated procedure).

OUTCOMES

Primary and major secondary outcomes were the frequency of intradialytic hypotension and symptoms (hypotensive events, headache, nausea, vomiting, and cramps), respectively.

RESULTS

More stable intradialytic systolic and diastolic blood pressures with lower heart rate were found using AASD compared with standard treatment. Sessions complicated by hypotension decreased from 58.7% ± 7.3% to 0.9% ± 0.6% (P < 0.001). The incidence of other disequilibrium syndrome symptoms was lower in patients receiving AASD. There were no differences in end-session body weight, interdialytic weight gain, or presession natremia between the standard and AASD treatment periods.

LIMITATIONS

A noncontrolled (single arm) study, no crossover from AASD to standard treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows the long-term clinical efficacy of AASD for intradialytic hypotension and disequilibrium symptoms in a large number of patients and dialysis sessions.