Glossary
Acute loss of renal function. There is a good chance of recovery of the renal function if the cause of the acute kidney failure can be eliminated. Depending on the severity of renal function loss, intermittent dialysis treatment may be necessary.
The term refers to the quality of dialysis treatment. To measure adequacy, tests are performed to see if enough fluid and substances have been removed from the patient’s blood.
A protein that can be used to monitor a patient’s nutritional condition.
Reduced oxygen transport capacity of the blood, measured as reduced hemoglobin content in the blood.
An agent (e.g. heparin) that prevents the clotting of blood (see blood coagulation).
Process of obtaining blood from a donor or a patient to separate or remove certain components (thrombocytes, plasma) before reinfusing the remainder.
A direct surgically created connection between an artery and a vein in a patient. This connection forms a large blood vessel with an increased blood flow, providing access for hemodialysis.
A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body.
Machine (cycler) supported version of peritoneal dialysis treatment usually performed at night.
Ability of a material, system or solution to perform without an undesired, clinically significant response from the host.
Procedure for measuring the water content of the body. Alternating voltage electrodes measure the relationship between the alternating current and the alternating voltage flowing through the body.
Fluid circulating in the body composed of plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, etc.). The main function of blood is to transport oxygen, nutrients and hormones to the cells and to remove waste products (such as carbon dioxide and urea). Blood also regulates the water and electrolyte balance and helps fight off contaminants as part of the immune system.
Cells responsible for transporting oxygen. They are created with the help of erythropoietin, a hormone produced in the kidneys.
Cells that defend the human body against infection. They are involved in allergic reactions and destroy damaged, old and dead cells in the body.
A complex process during which blood forms solid clots. It is an important part of hemostasis whereby a damaged blood vessel wall is covered by a fibrin clot that stops hemorrhaging and helps repair the damaged vessel. Disorders in coagulation can lead to increased hemorrhaging and / or thrombosis and embolism. During dialysis treatment, blood coagulation is inhibited with anticoagulants such as heparin.
System of tubes connecting a patient’s blood circulation with a dialyzer during extracorporeal dialysis treatment.
The part of blood responsible for healing wounds. Blood platelets form clots and release substances into the blood to generate the body’s healing response.
Pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels. Unless indicated otherwise, blood pressure is understood to mean arterial blood pressure, i.e. the pressure in the large arteries, such as the brachial artery (in the arm). The arterial pressure is higher than the pressure of the blood in other vessels.
Substance that reduces pH changes that occur in a system during the introduction of an acid or a base.
A flexible tube inserted through the skin into a blood vessel or cavity to draw out body fluid or infuse fluid. In peritoneal dialysis a catheter is used to infuse dialysis solution into the abdominal cavity and drain it out again.
Proof of compliance with European Union directives for medical devices.
Slow and progressive loss of kidney function over several years, often resulting in permanent kidney failure. Since the renal function cannot be recovered, the patient has to be treated with renal replacement therapy, i.e. kidney transplantation or dialysis.
A quantitative parameter to describe dialysis performance in terms of uremic toxin removal.
Medicare reimbursement rate for dialysis treatment.
A type of peritoneal dialysis treatment where the dialysis solution is exchanged manually, generally four times a day.
A condition characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) resulting from the body’s inability to use glucose efficiently. Insulin helps the body’s cells use glucose.
Fluid used in the process of dialysis.
Form of renal replacement therapy where a semipermeable membrane – in peritoneal dialysis the peritoneum of the patient, in hemodialysis the membrane of the dialyzer – is used to selectively filter solute from the patient’s blood into the dialysate.
Special filter used in hemodialysis for removing toxic substances and excess water from the blood. The dialyzer is sometimes referred to as the “artificial kidney”.
Semipermeable barrier in the dialyzer to separate the blood from the dialysate.
An exchange in the chemical concentration of two fluids that are divided by a semipermeable membrane. The molecules move from one fluid to the other, with metabolic toxins being transferred through the membrane into the dialysate.
Integrated concept of patient care that takes into account all medical aspects of an illness.
Targeted optimal body weight of the patient, achieved by removing excess water during dialysis.
In peritoneal dialysis, this is the amount of time the dialysis solution remains in the patient’s abdominal cavity during an exchange.
Terminal kidney failure accompanied by long-term complications such as renal anemia, hypertension and other cardiovascular problems, as well as bone disease, loss of appetite and malnutrition (see also “Chronic Kidney Failure”).
Hormone that stimulates red blood cell production.
Recombinant human EPO that is commonly prescribed to patients on dialysis who suffer from anemia.
Treatments situated or occurring outside (extra) the body (corporeal), e.g. haemodialysis.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The U.S. National Kidney Foundation categorizes kidney disease into five stages based on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The GFR indicates the volume of liquid that the kidneys filter from the blood per minute (primary urine). This ranges from more than 90 ml / min in healthy kidneys (stage 1) to less than 15 ml / min (stage 5) when dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed. Persons with stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) have advanced kidney damage (GFR of 15 to 29 ml / min); it is highly likely that these patients will need dialysis or a kidney transplant in the near future.
Special form of private health insurance in the U.S. where the insured are members and treatment is provided by contract physicians (or member physicians) of the organization.
Special type of ESRD treatment combining the advantages of hemodialysis and hemofiltration. High elimination rates are achieved for substances with small and large weight molecules via diffusive and convective mechanisms respectively.
ESRD treatment method where the patient’s blood flows outside the body through disposable bloodlines into a special filter, the dialyzer. The dialysis solution carries away waste products and excess water, and the cleaned blood is returned to the patient. The process is controlled by a hemodialysis machine that pumps blood, adds anticoagulants, regulates the purification process, and controls the mixing of the dialysis solution and its flow rate through the system. A patient typically receives three treatments per week, lasting from three to six hours each.
A type of ESRD treatment that does not use dialysate. The solutes are removed using convective forces to filter plasma water through a semipermeable membrane. Substitution fluid is used to replace the volume removed by filtration.
Substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.
Universal anticoagulant substance that is administered during hemodialysis to inhibit blood coagulation during the dialysis treatment.
Dialyzers containing highly permeable membranes that allow for the effective removal of water and large uremic toxins in the size of e.g. ß2-microglobulin.
Increased blood volume.
Number of patients who are newly diagnosed with a specific disease during a certain period of time.
International Standards Organization.
Two kidneys are located at the rear of the abdominal cavity, one each on the right and left side of the spinal column. These vital organs are approximately 11 cm long and weigh only 160 grams each. The kidneys ensure a regulated acid-base balance by filtering excreta and producing urine. Approximately 1,700 liters of blood normally pass through the kidneys every 24 hours.
A surgical procedure to implant a kidney from a donor.
Indicator to evaluate treatment quality. It is calculated by dividing the product of urea clearance (K) and the length of treatment (dialysis time, t) by the filtration rate of certain toxic molecules (the urea distribution volume in the patient, V).
System of quality management to describe, measure, analyze, improve and monitor processes with the goal of quality improvement.
Dialyzers with low permeability, e. g. for water.
A program developed by the federal U.S. Social Security Administration that reimburses health insurances and providers of medical services for medical care to individuals over 65, with ESRD or the disabled.
An indication of the “openness” of a dialyzer membrane for blood or dialysis fluid constituents.
Passage of water from the blood through a semipermeable membrane. In osmosis, as opposed to diffusion, molecules move only in one direction.
Dialysis treatment method using the patient’s peritoneum, i.e. the tissue that covers the inner surface of the abdominal cavity and the abdominal organs, as the dialyzing membrane for blood purification. A sterile dialysis solution is introduced and removed through a catheter that has been surgically implanted into the patient’s abdominal cavity. The solution absorbs toxins and excess water. Most treatments are supported by a machine, the cycler, and are administered by the patients in their home or workplace several times a day or during the night.
Liquid part of the blood containing water, proteins and other substances such as electrolytes and hormones. Blood cells are not part of the plasma.
A polymer used to produce dialyzer membranes. It is characterized by extreme thermal stability, chemical resistance and blood compatibility.
Number of all patients who suffer from a specific disease.
Management of all tasks along the supply chain, ranging from supplier selection, procurement and warehousing to the transport of goods to customers with the goal of improving efficiency in the value chain.
Terminal renal failure occurs when kidneys no longer detoxify the body, have lost this function finally and thus kidney substitute therapies become necessary.
Taking an organ or tissue from the body and grafting it into another area of the same body or into another individual.
The convective transport of solutes through a dialyzer or hemofilter membrane due to a decrease in hydrostatic pressure.
Rate of fluid removal from the patient’s blood circulation measured in ml / min. This rate has to be chosen carefully. If the rate is too high, the cardiovascular stability of the patient is put at risk; if it is too low, the patient’s excess water cannot be removed.
Method to connect a patient’s blood circulation to the dialyzer. The vascular access must enable sufficient blood flow and connection to the dialyzer as often as necessary, normally three times a week. Adequate vascular access is a prerequisite for hemodialysis. The early recognition of problems at the vascular access is essential for the blood to flow.
A blood vessel that carries blood to the heart.
Transplantation of tissues or organs from one species to another.
