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Benefits of a Renal Rehabilitation Program Adapted to Uremic Patients on Daily Hemodialysis at Low Dialysate Flow Rate.

Benefits of a Renal Rehabilitation Program Adapted to Uremic Patients on Daily Hemodialysis at Low Dialysate Flow Rate.

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07413315
Enrollment
50
Registered
2026-02-17
Start date
2024-08-13
Completion date
2027-12-31
Last updated
2026-02-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic Kidney Disease Requiring Hemodialysis, Sarcopenia, Rehabilitation Program

Brief summary

The concept of renal rehabilitation has become increasingly important with the increasing age of patients with severe or even terminal chronic kidney disease (CKD). It combines physical exercise and nutritional monitoring programs for patients with terminal CKD who are most often treated with conventional hemodialysis (HD) at a rate of 3 sessions of 4 hours per week. Sarcopenia is a very common phenomenon in patients with CKD. The prevalence found in recent meta-analyses varies between 25.6 and 28.5% in patients treated with dialysis. It is even higher in patients treated with HD than in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). Younger and more active patients will more often choose PD. The conventional HD modality preserves residual renal function less well, which is important for better elimination of uremic toxins bound to plasma proteins. Conventional HD requires a higher immobilization time and causes more post-dialysis symptoms, leaving less time for the patient to be physically active. The phenomenon of sarcopenia is not insignificant. It is associated in dialysis patients with a higher mortality rate (risk x 1.8) and a higher incidence of cardiovascular events (risk x 3.8). The association with higher mortality is well demonstrated for the 2 main components of sarcopenia, namely reduced muscle mass and reduced muscle strength. Sarcopenia also increases the risk of falls and fractures, it decreases the physical performance of patients and their ability to perform activities of daily living. The quality of life of patients is reduced and the probability of social placement is high. The phenomena of sarcopenia and physical deconditioning are even more problematic in patients in HD after an acute medical problem. The need for rehabilitation is even higher. "Classical" HD treatment can be a burden for these patients, leaving no room for integrating a complete rehabilitation program. Daily low dialysate flow rate hemodialysis (LDF) is a type of hemodialysis in which patients benefit from more frequent but shorter and hemodynamically better tolerated HD sessions. This new technique potentially presents certain advantages over conventional HD, particularly at the cardiovascular level: better blood pressure control and better reduction of left ventricular hypertrophy. LDF also allows better control of hyperphosphatemia with a reduced need for phosphorus binders. Thanks to more frequent dialysis (5 to 6 sessions per week), inter-dialytic weight gain is often less significant, allowing less aggressive ultrafiltration, with better hemodynamic tolerance, and better post-dialysis recovery. In this perspective, this study aims to examine the interest of integrating HDQ dialysis into a renal rehabilitation program in patients with terminal CKD whose dialysis must continue after an acute event requiring hospitalization. The investigators want to study whether this technique allows the implementation of a more effective rehabilitation program, while maintaining the same dialysis efficiency as with the conventional HD technique. To the investigator's knowledge, no study concerning patients under HDQ has been conducted during their renal rehabilitation phase. The objectives of the current study are: * To study the interest of integrating HDQ dialysis into a renal rehabilitation program in patients with terminal CKD. * To study the efficacy and tolerance of HDQ dialysis and the rehabilitation program in these patients.

Interventions

PROCEDURELow flow rate hemodialysis

Low flow rate hemodialysis five times per week

Tailor made rehabilitation program

Sponsors

Brugmann University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* patient with terminal chronic kidney disease requiring hemodialysis treatment * patient recently hospitalized for an acute medical event.

Exclusion criteria

* dementia/mild cognitive impairment (MMSE \< 20/30) * decompensated psychiatric pathology and/or behavioral disorders * pregnant woman * recovery of renal function allowing interruption of helodialysis sessions * candidate for neurological rehabilitation * patient with recent spinal cord injury * patient with absolute and/or relative contraindication to performing a stress test * severe or poorly tolerated cardiac rhythm disorder * severe or symptomatic obstruction to left ventricular ejection * decompensated heart failure * acute myocarditis, pericarditis or endocarditis * acute aortic dissection * high-risk emboligenic intracardiac thrombus * significant stenosis of the common trunk * ventricular aneurysm * supraventricular tachycardia with poorly controlled ventricular rate, acquired high-degree or complete block * obstructive cardiomyopathy with high resting gradient * recent stroke or TIA * acute venous thrombosis with or without pulmonary embolism * poorly controlled clinical condition, such as marked anemia, significant electrolyte disturbance, hyperthyroidism, etc. * lack of cooperation from the patient * Blood pressure \> 200/110 mmHg

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Hand grip testAt admission in the rehabilitation wardGrip strength (measured by means of a dynamometer) is recommended as a good simple measure of muscle strength. Low grip strength is a powerful predictor of poor patient outcomes such as longer hospital stays, increased functional limitations, poor health-related quality of life and death. Cut-off points for men \<27 kg Cut-off points for women \<16 kg

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Short physical performance battery test (SPPB)At admission in the rehabilitation wardThe short physical performance battery (SPPB) is a group of measures that combines the results of the gait speed, chair stand and balance tests. It has been used as a predictive tool for possible disability. The scores range from 0 (worst performance) to 12 (best performance). The SPPB has been shown to have predictive validity showing a gradient of risk for mortality, nursing home admission, and disability. The maximum score is 12 points, and a score of ≤ 8 points indicates poor physical performance.
Six minutes walking test (6 MWT)At admission in the rehabilitation wardThe 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a commonly used test to assess functional exercise capacity. It evaluates the functional capacity of the individual and it provides information over the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems, blood circulation, neuromuscular system, body metabolism, and peripheral circulation. An increase in the distance walked indicates improvement in basic mobility. In the geriatric population: Small meaningful change 20 m, Substantial meaningful change 50 m.
Muscle ultrasound conclusionAt admission in the rehabilitation wardAssessment of pennate muscles such as the quadriceps femoris can detect a decrease in muscle thickness and cross-sectional area within a relatively short period of time, the use of ultrasound has been expanded in clinical practice to support the diagnosis of sarcopenia in older adults.
SF-36At admission in the rehabilitation wardShort Form Health Survey (SF-36) Standardised questionnaire measuring quality of life, reporting a physical componant summary score and a mental componant summary score, both ranging from 0 to 100, with lower scores indicating more disability and higher scores indicating less disability.
Kt/VAt admission in the rehabilitation wardBlood test evaluating the quality of the dialysis on weekly basis
Myostatin blood levelsAt admission in the rehabilitation wardBlood levels of Myostatin (sarcopenia biomarker)
Activin A blood levelsAt admission in the rehabilitation wardBlood levels of Activin A (sarcopenia biomarker)
IGF1 blood levelsAt admission in the rehabilitation wardBlood levels of IGF1 (biomarker)

Countries

Belgium

Contacts

CONTACTJoris Vanparys, MD
Joris.VANPARYS@chu-brugmann.be+32 2475 52 64
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJoris Vanparys, MD

CHU Brugmann

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 18, 2026