Advances and innovations in dialysis in the 21st century
- Imperial College Kidney and Transplant Institute, West London Renal and Transplant Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
- Dr A Power, West London Renal and Transplant Centre, 4th Floor, Hamm House, Hammersmith Hospital NHS Trust, DuCane Road, London W12 0HS, UK; albert.power{at}imperial.nhs.uk
- Received 19 July 2008
- Accepted 11 December 2008
Abstract
Patients with end stage renal failure (ESRD) require renal replacement therapy in the form of dialysis or renal transplantation. There is an increasing number of people receiving maintenance dialysis as patients with ESRD are increasing faster than the supply of transplantable organs. The mortality rate on dialysis is 4–6 times that of the general population and is substantially reduced by transplantation. For the past 8 years, dialysis research has focused on improving patient outcomes and quality of life on dialysis. This review examines recent advances in haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in a historical context and considers future research possibilities.
Footnotes
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Competing interests: None.
