Dietary Dialysis with Acacia Gum: Intestinal Dialysis Technology

Abstract

Background: The use of a new dietary approach used to lower urea levels in chronic renal failure, and thus simulating dialysis has been recently described. This approach has been increasingly called intestinal or dietary dialysis. The aim of this paper is to describe the treatment of nine patients with chronic renal failure associated with symptomatic uremia with intestinal dialysis. Patients and Methods: During the period from December, 2005 to October, 2009, nine patients (5 males and 4 females) with various renal disorders associated with symptomatic uremia were referred for treatment due to their unwillingness to undergo dialysis. Ages ranged from 3.5 year to 72 years (mean 28.8).All patients considered dialysis in their circumstance to be associated with an unacceptable degree of discomfort and suffering. Five patients had severe uremic symptoms (fatigability, tachypnea, and anorexia). All of the patients were unable to walk independently. The patients were treated with the new technology of intestinal dialysis. Results: All the patients enrolled experienced amelioration of symptoms of uremia with improved general wellbeing in association with lowering of urea levels and creatinine during the period of therapy. They patients were followed for a period ranging from 8 weeks to 8 years. It was possible to follow three patients for more than 2 years on this therapy, and one patient was followed for about 8 years. They three patients continued to experience low urea levels and didn’t develop any symptoms of uremia. No important side effect was observed. However, most patients experienced some degree of abdominal distention associated with increased passage of gases (flatulence). Conclusion: Patients treated with intestinal dialysis experienced conspicuous lowering of urea and creatinine and improvement in the general wellbeing.