Anorexia in dialysis patients

Malnutrition, which is common in maintenance dialysis patients, is strongly associated with increased morbidity and mortality. An important contributing factor is anorexia, leading to reduced intake in relation to the recommended allowances, which for protein is higher than in healthy subjects. Uremic toxicity in underdialyzed patients may cause anorexia as a result of retention of toxic compounds in the middle molecular weight range, which are normally excreted in the urine. Various comorbidity factors and psychosocial and economic factors may also be associated with low nutritional intake. The hemodialysis procedure may reduce nutritional intake because of cardiovascular instability with nausea and vomiting and post-dialysis fatigue. Abdominal discomfort, absorption of glucose and amino acids, and peritonitis may reduce appetite in peritoneal dialysis patients. Underdialysis, if present, should be corrected and various catabolic factors such as acidosis, infections, and other comorbidity factors should be treated, dietary counseling should be given, and psychosocial and economic support should be provided when needed. Patients who remain malnourished despite such measures may be given parenteral or enteral nutritional supplementation. Peritoneal dialysis solutions with amino acids have been used successfully in CAPD patients who suffer from protein malnutrition. Recombinant human growth hormone and IGF-1 are new treatment alternatives that need further evaluation.