Researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto have discovered that special cells found in bone marrow and blood do a better job of promoting blood vessel growth in nocturnal home hemodialysis patients than in patients undergoing dialysis in a hospital setting. Longer and more frequent nightly dialysis sessions greatly reduce the amount of toxins in the blood and this may explain why these EPLC cells (short for “early-outgrowth endolethial progenitor-like” cells) work better. The researchers believe that nocturnal home hemo may help patients with blood vessel damage avoid complications such as amputation and decreased mobility.
Source:
New Evidence of the Benefits of Home Dialysis for Kidney Patients, St. Michael’s Hospital, July 21, 2011