Long, slow dialysis

Long slow hemodialysis (3 x 8 hours/week) has been used in Tassin for 30 ye ars without significant change in the method. It provides excellent results in terms of morbidity and mortality. The better survival than usually repo rted on shorter dialysis is mainly due to lower cardiovascular mortality, T he nutritional state of the patient is good, as well as the correction of a nemia with low doses of EPO, But the main feature concerns blood pressure; hypertension is very well controlled without need for antihypertensive medi cations, The gentle ultrafiltration provided by a long session time associa ted with a low salt diet and a moderate interdialytic weight gain allows fo r normalization of the extracellular fluid space in most patients (dry weig ht) without important intradialytic morbidity, This low salt diet has parad oxically been forgotten in recent years while shortened dialysis time rende rs it more necessary than ever. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.