Novel techniques and innovation in blood purification: a clinical update from Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes

Mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remains unacceptably high. Emerging techniques and advances in dialysis technology have the potential to improve clinical outcomes in the ESRD population. This report summarizes the deliberations and recommendations of a conference sponsored by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes to address the following questions: (1) what is the appropriate frequency and duration of hemodialysis; (2) how should we optimize water quality and dialysate composition; and (3) what technical innovations in blood purification and bioengineering can result in better clinical outcomes? The conference report will augment our current understanding of clinical practice in blood purification and will pose several high-priority research questions.