Currently, there is little information about which is the safest modality in the first session of intermittent hemodialysis. Other than dialysis-associated imbalance syndrome, there is no evidence exploring the neurocognitive effects of the first hemodialysis session. Cognitive impairment is defined as a new deficit in two or more areas of cognitive function and its progression is associated with impaired kidney function. Most of the dysfunctions reported are in the domains of orientation, attention and executive functions. Therefore, the recognition of cognitive impairment can be done with tools such as the Minimental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) test. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can identify brain lesions such as 'silent' infarcts, microbleeds and white matter abnormalities in patients with CKD with and without RRT. Diffusion-weighted MRI before and after HD has shown brain edema in rats with dialysis-associated imbalance syndrome. In fact, there is evidence from brain MRI that before first HD session patients have interstitial cerebral edema, which worsens after the first HD treatment.
Because there is no clear evidence to support the choice of the modality in the first session and the prescription is still based on personal experiences and shared views. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to determine the safest hemodialysis modality with the lowest risks and neurocognitive effects for patients with CKD and first HD treatment.
