Nephrology

Advancing non-invasive intradialytic parenteral nutrition to support patients on long-term hemodialysis. 

Contact Us

Intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) is a non-invasive and supplemental nutritional therapy that can be provided to patients on hemodialysis (HD).1 IDPN is associated with a 30% reduction in hospitalization rates and may shorten the length of hospital stay by 40%.2 Baxter develops PN solutions that can optimize nutrition support of long-term HD patients for whom oral nutritional supplements or enteral nutrition is insufficient, contraindicated or fails to meet nutritional needs.

Nurse talking to patient

End-stage kidney disease patients are at risk of malnutrition

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD), the final and irreversible stage of chronic kidney disease, requires patients to receive either a kidney transplant or kidney replacement therapy such as hemodialysis to survive.1 In Europe, ESKD affects around 850 people per one million.3 Approximately 85% of ESKD patients initiating kidney replacement therapy are started on HD, of which 57% consistently receive HD therapy.3

Nurse and female patient

Malnutrition is widespread in hemodialysis patients

According to a global meta-analysis, malnutrition can be found in 28-54% of patients on chronic HD therapy.4 The underlying reasons for malnutrition are both multiple and complex and involves HD-related loss of key nutrients from the bloodstream that cannot be compensated for by additional nutrient intake via oral or enteral routes.5 End-stage kidney disease patients with malnutrition are at an increased risk of requiring hospitalization6 and of suffering from co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease and infection, lower quality of life, accelerated disease progression, and increased mortality.7,11-13

Protein energy wasting can put your HD patients at risk and is an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality9

Protein energy wasting (PEW) can be a serious syndrome observed in kidney disease patients and is characterized by the depletion of protein and energy reserves. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are multiple and include factors related to ESKD, comorbidities, dialysis, and inadequate nutrition.5 A global meta-analysis of 90 studies on PEW incidence in kidney disease patients on HD therapy reported a median prevalence of 43%, making it a frequent syndrome in this patient group.10 PEW can lead to complications and has a negative impact on prognosis and quality of life.7 The prevalence of the syndrome increases with time on dialysis and appears to be more prominent in older patients.9

Doctors walking in Hospital

IDPN is recommended by international guidelines

ESPEN guidelines on clinical nutrition in hospitalized patients with chronic kidney disease recommend that IDPN composed of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and lipids) is applied in malnourished non-critically ill patients on HD. Furthermore, IDPN is recommended for patients at risk of malnutrition who cannot tolerate, or fail to respond to, oral intake with or without oral nutritional supplements or enteral administration of nutrition. The ESPEN recommendation is based on several randomized clinical trials which documented nutritional improvements from IDPN in patients on HD therapy and overt PEW.4

IDPN is associated with:

Statistics
Adapted from Blondin J, Ryan C. Am J Kidney Dis 1999.
IDPN is associated with a 30% reduction in hospitalization rates and can shorten the length of hospital stays by 40% when compared to pre-treatment statistics.2

Old couple smiling

IDPN is non-invasive, easy to administer and independent of patient compliance

Through the evolution of high protein, small volume multi-chamber bags with licensed dosing for IDPN, Baxter provides non-invasive options for delivering balanced nutrients during the hemodialysis session without relying on patient compliance. The available solutions present safe and convenient approaches to nutritional therapy, which can improve health outcomes by replenishing the nutritional needs of your ESKD patients. 

Learn more about parenteral nutrition in HD therapy

Read the ESPEN guidelines on hospitalized patients with acute or chronic kidney disease

Licensed ready-to-use three-chamber bag solutions with dosing guidance for IDPN

3CB PN solutions with licensed dosing guidance for IDPN