In end-stage renal disease (ESRD), cachexia is a common finding. Metabolic changes, malnutrition, or both appear to be the underlying problems. In fact, lean body mass per body weight better predicts prognosis than creatinin based models (NDT, 2004.19:1182). In addition, comorbidity such as HIV infection may exacerbate cachexia found in ESRD. Whether or not daily supplemental, high-caloric nutrition in ESRD corrects a catabolic state in ESRD is unclear.
Hypothesis to be tested:
Daily supplemental high-caloric nutrition beneficially affects cytokine stimulation (TNF alpha, IL 1beta, IL 6, CrP) and nutritional state (cross sectional area of triceps m. in mid-humerus position (MRT), plasma albumin) in in HIV-positive hemodialysis patients and in chronic hemodialysis patients compared to chronic hemodialysis patients without supplemental nutrition.