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MEDICAL RESEARCH

Patients with kidney disease – treatment through well-functioning fistula

Worldwide, the number of dialysis patients is increasing. One of the dialysis treatments is blood dialysis. In order to achieve an efficient dialysis treatment, there is a need of a stable and well-functioning vascular access, preferably a fistula.

”After placement of a fistula, however, there is a high risk of it not maturing (meaning that it can never be used), of development of stenosis inside the blood vessel, and of the need for an angioplasty. This means poorer dialysis treatment and lower rates of patient survival. Through a registry base study, we will examine firstly the occurrence of fistulas in blood dialysis patients and secondly important factors associated with fistula maturation and survival”, staff specialist Kristine Lindhard from the kidney disease ward at Herlev Hospital explains.

In addition, the researchers will use a randomised study to explore whether infra-red radiation, provided locally on the skin on top of the fistula, will improve fistula maturation and survival. This treatment will take place during the dialysis treatment, thus requiring no extra time from the patients.

The project is a multi-centre study involving nine dialysis units and 190 patients. ”If the results are positive, this treatment will be able to help dialysis patients and their fistulas worldwide,” Kristine Lindhard says.

In addition, acute changes in various biochemical factors during the infra-red treatment will be explored with a view to providing researchers with more in-depth knowledge of the mechanism behind the infra-red treatment.