Preface

This issue of Hemodialysis International is a collection of the Proceedings of the 19 International Symposium on Hemodialysis (HD), which was held March 10-12 2013 in conjunction with the 33 Annual Dialysis Conference. It contains 3 clinical trials, 3 review articles and one case report. In the first of the seven articles on page S2, Sakurada et al report their experience in Japanese patients of the efficacy of oral powder formulation of Lanthanum Carbonate in patients with ESRD on Hemodialysis. Their retrospective analysis reveals that the powder form of this compound is more effective than the chewable tablet form in lowering hyperphosphatemia at equal doses. Hemoglobin monitoring in hemodialysis patients at a frequency of once or twice a month is not only invasive in nature, it also can lead to significant and unwanted fluctuations owing to the frequency of its monitoring and subsequent adjustments in the dosage of Erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs). On page S7, Stavinoha et al describe their experience of non-invasive measurement of Hemoglobin in a pediatric patient population by critline. They report excellent correlation between crit line measurements and values obtained by conventional method. Thus, in pediatric age group at least, this method of monitoring hemoglobin shows a promising way to monitor hemoglobin. It may also have implications for better dosing of ESAs. Marsenic et al on page S11, report their experience of studying serum cystatin C and beta-2 microglobulin kinetics in seven pediatric hemodialysis patients being dialyzed with low flux dialyzers. Based on their findings, they recommend that Cystatin C should be used as the preferred marker for removal of middle molecules and also as a marker of intensified hemodialysis regimens. Jablonski and Chonchol provide an excellent and concise review of vascular calcification in ESRD on page S17. Management of the hemodialysis prescription in patients with intracranial hemorrhage is fraught with complexities, especially when patients are managed in non ICU settings. Davenport’s article on page S22 provides a practical guidance to this difficult management issue. The same author on page S28 provides a brief yet thorough review on the use of low molecular weight heparins for chronic hemodialysis treatments. The article highlights the important fact that despite their higher cost, these drugs offer greater reliability of clinical effect and more ease of administration than conventional unfractionated Heparin. Finally, in their case report, Katikaneni et al describe an interesting case of calciphylaxis in a patient on hemodialysis where parathyroidectomy was followed by recurrence of calciphylaxis due to treatment of resultant hypocalcemia on page S33. The article provides an important insight on the role of parathyroidectomy in this debilitating condition. In the end, as always, I would like to extend a big thank you to Claire Oser. Claire has effortlessly steered this issue through its production phase like she does year after year. Her meticulous and detail oriented approach ensured that we continue to strive for excellence every step of the way.