A breakthrough in the treatment of patients with renal failure

European research has shown that a new dialysis treatment for kidney failure reduces the risk of death by 23 percent compared to standard treatment. This research, led by scientists from UMC Utrecht, is expected to lead to major changes in the world of dialysis.

At present, 10 percent of kidney patients who depend on so-called dialysis treatment die each year. That’s because the machine that takes over the function of the human kidney is not as effective as healthy kidneys at removing waste. After all, a healthy kidney works 24 hours a day, a dialysis machine three times a week, four hours into each session.

A new method, hemofiltration, can remove more waste in the same time frame. The question was whether it makes a difference to life expectancy. With nearly a quarter less chance of dying, the answer is “yes,” according to a European study published today in the leading scientific journal The New England Journal of Medicine.

“Personally, I think it’s a great progress for kidney patients,” says Peter Blankstegen, Head of Research Utrecht and nephrologist. “Especially since this method does not require more time. Modifications to treatment are not terribly complex and can be applied on a large scale.”

Rob van Kruijsdijk, an internist nephrologist at Radboudumc who was not involved in the study, wouldn’t find it surprising that the publication has “significantly changed the world of dialysis.”

“Based on previous studies, quite a few doctors still have doubts about the new method of dialysis. Partly certainly in the Netherlands, but the new treatment is rarely used in the United States. I think this study will dispel those doubts and hemofiltration will become the new norm.” “.

Good news for thousands of patients in the Netherlands and all over the world. With more than 6,000 dialysis patients in the Netherlands and four million in the world, kidney failure is a common chronic condition. This number is expected to increase with the aging of the population.

In some cases, a kidney transplant can provide a long-term solution that allows people to live longer and not have to go through dialysis almost every day. But a large group of people will depend on dialysis for the rest of their lives.

Another important point that is now being investigated is whether the new dialysis method leads to a better quality of life. Researchers from the Charite University in Berlin are focusing on this aspect as part of a European research project. These results are expected at the end of this year.