Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction in Patients With End-stage Kidney Disease

The prevalence of autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is considered to be increased. The uraemic environment, as well as the high incidence of comorbid conditions affecting the ANS function (e.g. diabetes mellitus, autoimmune and degenerative neurological diseases), have been proposed to cause important alterations in ANS function. The vast majority of evidence on the prevalence of ANS dysfunction in ESKD patients is derived from small studies elaborating simple methodology. Noteworthy, with the exception of a study in 27 hemodialysis patients which assessed ANS function before and after dialysis in relation to left ventricular filling pressures, and a 2005 Dutch study in 21 patients whether or not they had hypotension during dialysis, no other study used advanced methods to analyze heart rate or blood pressure variability from beat-to-beat recordings, such as this study. In addition, there is no study so far investigating possible changes in the ANS function per dialysis session. Finally, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first work evaluating possible differences in ANS function in hemodialysis compared with peritoneal dialysis individuals.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Kidney Failure, Chronic

Detailed Description

This is an observational study performed in the Department of Nephrology, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. For the purposes of this study, adult patients (>18 years) with ESKD being treated with hemodialysis (HD) (on standard thrice-weekly HD treatment) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) for at least 3 months, fulfilling the inclusion/exclusion criteria were invited to participate. PD and HD patients will be matched by a blinded member of our team based on age, gender and dialysis vintage (i.e. the duration of time after the point they started renal replacement therapy for ESRD) in a 1:1 ratio. All included patients signed a written informed consent form. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. All procedures and evaluations are performed according to the Declaration of Helsinki 2013 Amendment.

Evaluation of participants includes the recording of demographics and anthropometric characteristics, medical history, concomitant medications and dialysis-related parameters, as well as physical examination and venous blood sampling for routine laboratory tests. Participants are instructed to visit the Department one hour before the programmed follow-up visit at their unit (PD patients); HD patients are instructed to visit the Department on 2 consecutive days (mid-week dialysis day and the corresponding dialysis-off day). All procedures are performed in a room with an ambient temperature of 23-24oC. Firstly, participants are oriented and familiarized with the experimental procedures and are prepared for the hemodynamic and cardiovascular examinations. Continuous beat-by-beat BP and heart rate are monitored using finger photoplethysmography (Finometer PRO, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) throughout the protocol. An inflatable cuff is placed on the middle finger of the non-access hand maintained at heart level. After a 5-min rest, all participants underwent a mental task (countdown from 100 to 0 by 7, performed twice), an orthostatic test (5 min with the patient at the supine position followed by 5 min with the patient in upright position), and a mild physical task [3-minute submaximal handgrip exercise test (set of 30 s exercise at 35% MVC with 3 s rest] (K-Force, K-invent). At the completion of the exercise protocol, the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) is assessed using the Borg scale.

For data analysis, beat-by-beat SBP and DBP will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands). From pulse pressure profiles, beat-by-beat heart rate (HR) and stroke volume (SV, ml) will be computed, using the Modelflow method; cardiac output (L/min) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR, mmHg.s/mL), will also be computed using Beatscope. HRV analysis will be performed with the HRV Analysis software Kubios (version 3.3.1, Kubios Oy, 2019) by the same researcher to eliminate inter-observer variability. R-R interval series will be checked for ectopic beats or artifacts. The root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) between the coupling intervals of adjacent R-R intervals will be used as a parasympathetic activity index. Baroreceptor sensitivity (ms/mmHg) will be assessed by examining the spontaneous fluctuations in the blood pressure as assessed by the cross-correlation method using the Beatscope 1a software).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 78

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Danai Faitatzidou; Phone Number: +302313312930; Email: d.a.n.a.i.90@hotmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Pantelis Sarafidis; Phone Number: +302313312930; Email: psarafidis11@yahoo.gr

Study Locations

• Greece
  • Thessaloniki, Greece, 54642
    • Recruiting
    • Department of Nephrology, Hippokration Hospital
    • Contact: Danai Faitatzidou; Phone Number: +302313312930; Email: d.a.n.a.i.90@hotmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

ESKD individuals treated with either hemodialysis (standard thrice weekly schedule) or peritoneal dialysis

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age >18 years
• ESKD individuals treated with either hemodialysis (standard thrice weekly schedule) or peritoneal dialysis for at least 3 months
• Provision of informed written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Antihypertensive treatment modifcation during one month prior to study enrollment
• Modification of treatment for neurological disorders one month prior to study enrollment
• Active malignant disease or other comorbidity with poor prognosis
• History of neurological disorders (e.g. Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, etc) that cause primary ANS dysfunction
• History of ANS dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, amyloidosis, autoimmune disorders, etc.
• Active infection or relevant inter-current illness.
• History of drug or alcohol abuse or severe mental disorder

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
hemodialysis
peritoneal dialysis

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The difference in the root mean square of successive R-R differences [RMSSD (ms)] parameter of heart rate variability during the mental arithmetic test between the examination during the dialysis session and the examination in the out-of-dialysis day	The root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) between the coupling intervals of adjacent R-R intervals will be used as a parasympathetic activity index. RMSSD will be calculated with the HRV Analysis software Kubios (version 3.3.1, Kubios Oy, 2019)	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The difference in baroreceptor-sensitivity (ms/mmHg) during mental-arithmetic-test between examination during the session and examination in the out-of-dialysis day.	Baroreceptor sensitivity (ms/mmHg) will be assessed by examining the spontaneous fluctuations in the blood pressure as assessed by the cross-correlation method using the Beatscope 1a software).	Baseline
The difference in stroke-volume (ml) during mental-arithmetic-test between examination during the session and examination in the out-of-dialysis day.	Beat-by-beat stroke volume (ml) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in cardiac-output (L/min) during mental-arithmetic-test between examination during the session and examination in the out-of-dialysis day	Beat-by-beat cardiac output (L/min) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands).	Baseline
The difference in total-peripheral-resistance during mental-arithmetic-test between examination during the session and examination in the out-of-dialysis day.	Beat-by-beat total peripheral resistance (mmHg.s/mL) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in both SBP and DBP (mmHg) during mental-arithmetic-test between examination during the session and examination in the out-of-dialysis day.	Beat-by-beat SBP and DBP will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in in the root mean square of successive R-R differences [RMSSD (ms)] parameter of heart rate variability during the handgrip test between dialysis session start and session end.	The root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) between the coupling intervals of adjacent R-R intervals will be used as a parasympathetic activity index. RMSSD will be calculated with the HRV Analysis software Kubios (version 3.3.1, Kubios Oy, 2019)	Baseline
The difference in baroreceptor sensitivity (ms/mmHg) during the handgrip test between dialysis session start and session end.	Baroreceptor sensitivity (ms/mmHg) will be assessed by examining the spontaneous fluctuations in the blood pressure as assessed by the cross-correlation method using the Beatscope 1a software).	Baseline
The difference in cardiac output (L/min) during the handgrip test between dialysis session start and session end.	Beat-by-beat cardiac output (L/min) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in total peripheral resistance during the handgrip test between dialysis session start and session end.	Beat-by-beat total peripheral resistance (mmHg.s/mL) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in both SBP and DBP (mmHg) during the handgrip test between dialysis session start and session end.	Beat-by-beat SBP and DBP will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in stroke volume (ml) during the handgrip test between dialysis session start and session end.	Beat-by-beat stroke volume (ml) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in in the root mean square of successive R-R differences [RMSSD (ms)] parameter of heart rate variability during the orthostatic test between dialysis session start and session end	The root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) between the coupling intervals of adjacent R-R intervals will be used as a parasympathetic activity index. RMSSD will be calculated with the HRV Analysis software Kubios (version 3.3.1, Kubios Oy, 2019)	Baseline
The difference in baroreceptor sensitivity (ms/mmHg) during the orthostatic test between dialysis session start and session end.	Baroreceptor sensitivity (ms/mmHg) will be assessed by examining the spontaneous fluctuations in the blood pressure as assessed by the cross-correlation method using the Beatscope 1a software).	Baseline
The difference in stroke volume (ml) during the orthostatic test between dialysis session start and session end.	Beat-by-beat stroke volume (ml) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in cardiac output (L/min) during the orthostatic test between dialysis session start and session end.	Beat-by-beat cardiac output (L/min) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in the total peripheral resistance during the orthostatic test between dialysis session start and session end.	Beat-by-beat total peripheral resistance (mmHg.s/mL) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in both SBP and DBP (mmHg) during the orthostatic test between dialysis session start and session end.	Beat-by-beat SBP and DBP will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in in the root mean square of successive R-R differences [RMSSD (ms)] parameter of heart rate variability during the handgrip test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients:.	The root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) between the coupling intervals of adjacent R-R intervals will be used as a parasympathetic activity index. RMSSD will be calculated with the HRV Analysis software Kubios (version 3.3.1, Kubios Oy, 2019)	Baseline
The difference in the baroreceptor sensitivity (ms/mmHg) during the handgrip test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients:.	Baroreceptor sensitivity (ms/mmHg) will be assessed by examining the spontaneous fluctuations in the blood pressure as assessed by the cross-correlation method using the Beatscope 1a software).	Baseline
The difference in the stroke volume (ml) during the handgrip test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients:.	Beat-by-beat stroke volume (ml) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in the total peripheral resistance during the handgrip test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients:.	Beat-by-beat total peripheral resistance (mmHg.s/mL) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in the cardiac output (L/min) during the handgrip test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.	Beat-by-beat cardiac output (L/min) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in both SBP and DBP (mmHg) during the handgrip test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.	Beat-by-beat SBP and DBP will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in in the root mean square of successive R-R differences [RMSSD (ms)] parameter of heart rate variability during the orthostatic test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.	The root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) between the coupling intervals of adjacent R-R intervals will be used as a parasympathetic activity index. RMSSD will be calculated with the HRV Analysis software Kubios (version 3.3.1, Kubios Oy, 2019)	Baseline
The difference in baroreceptor sensitivity (ms/mmHg) during the orthostatic test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.	Baroreceptor sensitivity (ms/mmHg) will be assessed by examining the spontaneous fluctuations in the blood pressure as assessed by the cross-correlation method using the Beatscope 1a software).	Baseline
The difference in cardiac output (L/min) during the orthostatic test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.	Beat-by-beat cardiac output (L/min) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in total peripheral resistance during the orthostatic test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.	Beat-by-beat total peripheral resistance (mmHg.s/mL) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in stroke volume (ml) during the orthostatic test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.	Beat-by-beat stroke volume (ml) will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline
The difference in both SBP and DBP (mmHg) during the orthostatic test between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.	Beat-by-beat SBP and DBP will be averaged per testing session and exported using the Beatscope software (version 1.a, Finapres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Heart rate variability: standards of measurement, physiological interpretation and clinical use. Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. Circulation. 1996 Mar 1;93(5):1043-65. No abstract available.
• Savica V, Musolino R, Di Leo R, Santoro D, Vita G, Bellinghieri G. Autonomic dysfunction in uremia. Am J Kidney Dis. 2001 Oct;38(4 Suppl 1):S118-21. doi: 10.1053/ajkd.2001.27418.
• Kamal A. Effect of hemodialysis on autonomic dysfunction in patients with chronic renal failure - biomed 2009. Biomed Sci Instrum. 2009;45:280-5.
• Galiatsatos P, Parakh K, Monti J, Thavarajah S, Aneke-Ogbu H, Watson A, Kim D, Wang NY, Shafi T, Silber HA. A finger photoplethysmography waveform during the valsalva maneuver detects changes in left heart filling pressure after hemodialysis. BMC Nephrol. 2015 Aug 14;16:138. doi: 10.1186/s12882-015-0135-0.
• Parati G, Casadei R, Groppelli A, Di Rienzo M, Mancia G. Comparison of finger and intra-arterial blood pressure monitoring at rest and during laboratory testing. Hypertension. 1989 Jun;13(6 Pt 1):647-55. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.13.6.647.
• Dipla K, Kousoula D, Zafeiridis A, Karatrantou K, Nikolaidis MG, Kyparos A, Gerodimos V, Vrabas IS. Exaggerated haemodynamic and neural responses to involuntary contractions induced by whole-body vibration in normotensive obese versus lean women. Exp Physiol. 2016 Jun 1;101(6):717-30. doi: 10.1113/EP085556.
• Westerhof BE, Gisolf J, Stok WJ, Wesseling KH, Karemaker JM. Time-domain cross-correlation baroreflex sensitivity: performance on the EUROBAVAR data set. J Hypertens. 2004 Jul;22(7):1371-80. doi: 10.1097/01.hjh.0000125439.28861.ed.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): March 20, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 3, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): March 14, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 14, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 3, 2022
• Last Verified: March 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: autonomic nervous system; peritoneal dialysis; hemodialysis; heart rate variability; end-stage kidney disease
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urologic Diseases; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Kidney Diseases; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Renal Insufficiency
• Other Study ID Numbers: ΔΔ4844

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No