HEMORandomized Study of Standard vs High Amount of Hemodialysis Using Low vs High Flux Dialyzer Membranes for End Stage Renal Disease

Study start date: March 1, 1995

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA: --Disease Characteristics-- End stage renal disease that requires in-center hemodialysis 3 times/week On hemodialysis for at least 3 months (6 months following renal transplant) No scheduled renal transplant from living donor --Prior/Concurrent Therapy-- No concurrent intervention studies unless ancillary to this protocol No concurrent investigational drugs --Patient Characteristics-- Hepatic: Albumin at least 2.6 g/dL by nephelometry No cirrhosis with encephalopathy or abnormal PT Renal: Urea clearance (interdialytic) no greater than 1.5 mL/min per 35 liters total urea volume Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class IV congestive heart failure despite maximal therapy No unstable angina No new onset angina No recent exacerbation of frequency, duration, or severity of angina Pulmonary: No chronic pulmonary disease requiring supplemental oxygen Other: Not hospitalized in acute or long term care facility at entry No active malignancy requiring chemotherapy or radiotherapy No AIDS No active systemic infection, e.g., tuberculosis or fungal infection No mental incompetence or other contraindication to protocol therapy Not pregnant Geographically available for treatment at participating institution No more than 20 missed treatments/year