[Strategies of interventing complications in hemodialysis with classical prescriptions from clinical cases]

Area of Science:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Nephrology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Hemodialysis is a primary renal replacement therapy for end-stage renal failure, supporting a large patient population.
• Despite its benefits, hemodialysis is associated with numerous complications that impair patient quality of life and can be life-threatening.
• Classical Chinese medicine, particularly formulas from the Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Synopsis of Golden Chamber, offers a distinct therapeutic approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of classical Chinese medicine prescriptions for managing common complications in long-term hemodialysis patients.
• To investigate the efficacy of syndrome-prescription matching in addressing hemodialysis-related issues.
• To provide intervention strategies for specific hemodialysis complications using traditional remedies.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of six clinical examples involving hemodialysis complications.
• Application of classical prescriptions based on syndrome differentiation for each case.
• Exploration of intervention strategies tailored to specific patient presentations.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated successful symptom relief in cases of dialysis muscle spasm, disequilibrium syndrome, and restless legs syndrome.
• Showcased effective management of uremic encephalopathy, post-dialysis arrhythmia, and secondary hyperparathyroidism.
• Highlighted the clinical utility of matching classical prescriptions to specific patient syndromes.

Conclusions:

• Classical Chinese medicine prescriptions offer a viable and effective strategy for managing hemodialysis complications.
• The principle of syndrome-prescription correspondence is key to achieving clinical efficacy in this patient group.
• This approach can significantly improve the quality of life for patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis.