When to start dialysis?

Abstract

In an attempt to decrease mortality in dialysis patients, the care for end-stage renal disease patients has been a focus of nephrologists for many years. Good pre-dialysis care has been found to improve mortality numbers in several studies. However, it is still not exactly clear, when the best moment has arrived to start renal replacement therapy. By illustrating two totally different patient cases the effect of outcome and quality of life are discussed-demonstrating on the one hand the role of clinical parameters, and on the other hand the influence of biochemical parameters.