BACKGROUND: Since the publication of opinion-based guidelines regarding the timing of dialysis treatment, there has been a trend toward earlier initiation. OBJECTIVE: In this review, the existing guidelines and the currently published studies that evaluate them are discussed. RESULTS: These studies could not demonstrate a clear benefit on survival or quality of life for patients who started with relatively higher renal function. CONCLUSION: Early start of dialysis treatment should not be confused with early referral to the nephrologist. It is concluded that initiation of dialysis should not depend on a predefined magnitude of renal function, but should be tailored to the individual patient.
BACKGROUND: Since the publication of opinion-based guidelines regarding the timing of dialysis treatment, there has been a trend toward earlier initiation. OBJECTIVE: In this review, the existing guidelines and the currently published studies that evaluate them are discussed. RESULTS: These studies could not demonstrate a clear benefit on survival or quality of life for patients who started with relatively higher renal function. CONCLUSION: Early start of dialysis treatment should not be confused with early referral to the nephrologist. It is concluded that initiation of dialysis should not depend on a predefined magnitude of renal function, but should be tailored to the individual patient.
Authors: Seth Wright; Dalia Klausner; Bradley Baird; Mark E Williams; Theodore Steinman; Hongying Tang; Regina Ragasa; Alexander S Goldfarb-Rumyantzev Journal: Clin J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2010-07-15 Impact factor: 8.237