Wearable Dialysis Unit

Wearable dialysis unit shows promise

An "investigational wearable hemodialysis device demonstrated promising safety and efficacy in a pilot study of eight patients with end-stage renal disease," according to a study published in the Dec. 15 issue of The Lancet. Andrew Davenport, M.D., of University College Hospital Medical School, and colleagues, connected participants "connected to the artificial kidney by their usual vascular access for dialysis," and adjusted heparin doses "to maintain an activated partial thromboplastin ratio of 1.5 to 2.0."

The patients wore the device for three to eight hours. The researchers found that "[c]ompared with baseline, mean bodyweight was significantly lower after treatment (P<0.01), and the ratio of extracellular to total body fluid was also significantly lower (P=0.0019)." While the results are promising, additional trials need to be conducted, the researchers concluded.