Blood Pressure Slopes and Ultrafiltration in Hemodialysis Patients

Description

Kidney failure has been recognized as one of the most costly chronic conditions among United States Veterans. Approximately 13,000 Veterans develop kidney failure each year, and most require hemodialysis initiation. Hemodialysis patients suffer significantly increased risk of death and hospitalizations, and excessive body fluid is a major cause of this. While empiric aggressive fluid removal during dialysis is one approach to limit fluid overload, this can cause dangerous decreases in blood pressure during dialysis that independently contribute to the high death rate. In this study, I aim to test a new strategy that prescribes fluid removal based on a patient's recent blood pressure patterns during dialysis. This clinical trial will compare my strategy to standard care and assess the outcomes of overall blood pressure change between dialysis treatments in addition to the number of times the blood pressure becomes dangerously low during dialysis. Another aim is to determine how differences in the structure and function of the heart influence blood pressure during dialysis.

Conditions

End Stage Renal Disease, Hypertension, Extracellular Volume Overload, Intradialytic Hypotension

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Kidney failure has been recognized as one of the most costly chronic conditions among United States Veterans. Approximately 13,000 Veterans develop kidney failure each year, and most require hemodialysis initiation. Hemodialysis patients suffer significantly increased risk of death and hospitalizations, and excessive body fluid is a major cause of this. While empiric aggressive fluid removal during dialysis is one approach to limit fluid overload, this can cause dangerous decreases in blood pressure during dialysis that independently contribute to the high death rate. In this study, I aim to test a new strategy that prescribes fluid removal based on a patient's recent blood pressure patterns during dialysis. This clinical trial will compare my strategy to standard care and assess the outcomes of overall blood pressure change between dialysis treatments in addition to the number of times the blood pressure becomes dangerously low during dialysis. Another aim is to determine how differences in the structure and function of the heart influence blood pressure during dialysis.

Using Intradialytic Blood Pressure Slopes to Guide Ultrafiltration in Hemodialysis Patients

Blood Pressure Slopes and Ultrafiltration in Hemodialysis Patients

Condition
End Stage Renal Disease
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Dallas

VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX, Dallas, Texas, United States, 75216-7167

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Hemodialysis patient
  • * Pre-dialysis systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mmHg averaged over 2 weeks OR post-dialysis systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mmHg averaged over 2 weeks
  • * HemoDialysis Vintage Less than 2 months
  • * Pregnancy
  • * Mean systolic blood pressure nadir \<95 mmHg in 2 weeks screening
  • * Mean pre- or post-dialysis systolic blood pressure \>180 mmHg
  • * Mean pre to post-HD decrease in blood pressure \>60 mmHg
  • * Routine intradialytic clonidine use
  • * Routine intradialytic midodrine use
  • * Documented antihypertensive medication non-adherence
  • * Mean ultrafiltration rate \>13 mL/kg/hr during 2 week screening
  • * For bioimpedance measurements only: amputation of a major extremity, presence of cardiac defibrillator or pacemaker, presence of a metallic implant (prosthetic joint)

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

VA Office of Research and Development,

Peter Noel Van Buren, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Study Record Dates

2025-07-01