COOLING OF DIALYSIS PROTECTS AGAINST BRAIN DAMAGE

While dialysis can cause blood pressure changes that damage the brain, cooling dialysis fluids can protect against such effects. The findings come from a study appearing in an upcoming issue of theJournal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The cooling intervention can be delivered without additional cost and is simple to perform

While dialysis is an essential treatment for many patients with kidney disease, it can cause damage to multiple organs, including the brain and heart, due to the sudden removal of bodily fluids.

To characterize dialysis-induced brain injury and to see whether cooled dialysis fluids (called dialysate) might help reduce such injury, Christopher McIntyre, DM, and his colleagues randomized 73 new dialysis patients to dialyze with body temperature dialysate or dialysate cooled to 0.5◦C below body temperature for 1 year. (Dr. McIntyre was at the University of Nottingham in the UK while conducting this work but is now at the University of Western Ontario and the London Health Sciences Centre, in Canada.)

The study demonstrated that dialysis drives progressive white matter brain injury due to blood pressure instability; however, patients who dialyzed at 0.5◦C below body temperature were completely protected against such white matter changes.

"This study demonstrates that paying attention to improving the tolerability of dialysis treatment -- in this case by the simple and safe intervention of reducing the temperature of dialysate -- does not just make patients feel better, but also can completely protect the brain from progressive damage," said Dr. McIntyre.

Nerve Damage And B12 Deficiency

One of the many causes of neuropathy is discussed in today's post from b12anemia.org (see link below) and that is, deficiency in vitamin B12. It's something that can easily be detected and equally easily treated by means of injections or supplements. Many people living with HIV are also deficient in B12 anyway, so it's always advisable to either rule it out, or deal with it as soon as possible. You should also be aware that it is often recommended using folic acid alongside the B12; for better absorption of both. Worth discussing with your doctor or specialist.

Peripheral Neuropathy
February 22nd, 2013 by B12anemia

Many people with vitamin B12 deficiency develop some form of nerve problems. The nerve damage experienced with B12 deficiency is referred to as peripheral neuropathy. In its most common form, peripheral neuropathy causes numbness and mild pain. Typically the pain is described as a tingling, or even a mild burning sensation. There are people who experience much more severe pain, but it is rare in B12 deficiency. The numbness is referred to as a loss of sensation and has been compared to wearing a thin layer of clothing, like a glove or a sock. You can feel something is touching your skin, it just feels like it is not direct contact.

There are many causes of peripheral neuropathy, pernicious anemia being one of them. It can also be the result of injuries, infections, exposure to toxins and other metabolic issues. It is also very common in diabetics.

If you catch the B12 deficiency early enough peripheral neuropathy can improve over time. And it does take time, lots of it. It can take up to a year to start to feel better, and much longer as your body continues to heal. At this time there is no medicine specifically designed to treat peripheral neuropathy, but it has been discovered that medications designed for other conditions can be used to control or reduce the symptoms. These are medications that are used to treat depression as well as epilepsy. The only one I know by name is cymbalta, but there are many others. If you are experiencing peripheral neuropathy symptoms check with your doctor to see if any of these types of medications would be right for you.

The peripheral nervous system consists of all the nerves in your body, except your brain and spinal cord. Those nerves are part of your central nervous system. Your peripheral nervous system includes sensory nerves that receive feeling – heat, pain, and touch. It also consists of motor nerves that control your muscles as well as autonomic nerves that control blood pressure, heart rate, digestion and bladder control.

http://www.b12anemia.org/peripheral-neuropathy.html#more-99