Fresenius Medical Care to Present New Research on Dialysis Therapies at the American Society of Nephrology's Renal Week

Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation’s leading provider of kidney dialysis clinics and renal products, is presenting research abstracts about dialysis treatment, patient care and outcomes during the American Society of Nephrology’s (ASN) annual meeting, Renal Week 2010, the largest scientific gathering of kidney disease experts worldwide.

Renal Week takes place Nov. 16–21 in Denver. This year’s theme is "Advancing Science and Medicine to Improve Kidney Health.” Attendance of more than 13,000 is expected, including more than 10,000 scientists and clinicians.

The studies being presented this year include:

• Regional Citrate Versus Systemic Heparin for Anticoagulation in Critically Ill Patients on Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration: A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Trial. Gerd R. Hetzel, Michael Schmitz, Rainer Himmele, Adelheid Gauly, Bernd Grabensee, Lars C. Rump. Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf; Fresenius Medical Care Germany; Fresenius Medical Care NA. F-FC165.
• Evolution and Clinical Course of First (EVER) Fistulas and Grafts. Eduardo K. Lacson, Weiling Wang, J. Michael Lazarus, Raymond M. Hakim. Fresenius Medical Care NA. SA-FC375.
• Sodium Thiosulfate Therapy for Calciphylaxis in Hemodialysis Patients. Debra Meade, Eduardo K. Lacson, Weiling Wang, Cindy A. Premo, Melanie Cousins, J. Michael Lazarus, Jeffrey L. Hymes. Fresenius Medical Care NA. TH-PO459.
• Increased Hospital Admissions on Mondays and Tuesdays in Hemodialysis Patients. Eduardo K. Lacson, Shu-Fang Lin, J. Michael Lazarus, Raymond M. Hakim. Fresenius Medical Care NA. TH-PO518.
• The Relationship of Na+ Gradient and Mortality in Incident Hemodialysis Patients. John Rogus, Eduardo K. Lacson, Peter Kotanko, Nathan W. Levin. Renal Research Institute, New York, NY; Fresenius Medical Care NA. TH-PO527.
• Choice of Vascular Access among Incident Hemodialysis Patients: A Decision and Cost-Utility Analysis. Hui Xue, Eduardo K. Lacson, Weiling Wang, Gary C. Curhan, Steven M. Brunelli. Department of Medicine, Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA; Fresenius Medical Care NA. TH-PO566.
• Failure To Achieve Prescribed Target Weight in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients Is Associated with Poor Outcomes. Len A. Usvyat, Balaji Gandhi, Nathan W. Levin, Peter Kotanko. Renal Research Institute, NY, NY; Fresenius Medical Care NA. F-PO1439.
• Integrated Care Management (ICM) Is Associated with Improved Patient Mortality: Results from the CMS ESRD Disease Management Demonstration Project. Stephen D. McMurray, Peter F. Sauer, Robert E. Farrell. Integrated Care Management, Fresenius Medical Care NA. F-PO1511.
• Central Venous Catheter Dysfunction in Incident Hemodialysis Patients. Eduardo K. Lacson, Weiling Wang, J. Michael Lazarus, Raymond M. Hakim. Fresenius Medical Care NA. F-PO1548.
• Hemodialysis Vascular Access Type and Bloodstream Infection Rates. Eduardo K. Lacson, Weiling Wang, J. Michael Lazarus, Raymond M. Hakim. Fresenius Medical Care NA. F-PO1564.
• Oral Nutritional Supplementation (ONS) as Part of Disease Management (DM) Improves Clinical Outcomes in the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Population. Christine Cheu, Sylvia Paz B. Ramirez, Jeffrey Pearson, Claudia Dahlerus, Peter F. Sauer, Robert E. Farrell, Stephen D. McMurray, Tania Chowdhury. Arbor Research; Fresenius Medical Care Health Plan. SA-PO2557.
• Sodium Gradient & Hospitalization for Fluid Overload in Hemodialysis Patients. Eduardo K. Lacson, Weiling Wang, J. Michael Lazarus, Raymond M. Hakim. Fresenius Medical Care NA. TH-PO489.
• Citrasate®: Effects on Hemodialysis Adequacy and Heparin N Requirements. Jeffrey J. Sands, Peter Kotanko, Jonathan H. Segal, Chiang-Hong Ho, Amy Young, Mary Carter, Olga Sergeyeva, Lisa Korth, Eileen Maunsell, Yueping Zhu, Mahesh Krishnan, Jose A. Diaz-Buxo. Fresenius Medical Care NA; RRINY; U Mich; DaVita. F-PO1416.

ASN Renal Week 2010, the largest nephrology meeting of its kind, will provide a forum to discuss the latest findings in renal research and engage in educational sessions related to advances in the care of patients with kidney and related disorders. FMCNA contributes research to ASN each year regarding the management of its patient population, to further the advancement of kidney care.

Founded in 1966, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is the world’s largest professional society devoted to the study of kidney disease. Comprised of 11,000 physicians and scientists, ASN continues to promote expert patient care, to advance medical research, and to educate the renal community. ASN also informs policymakers about issues of importance to kidney doctors and their patients. ASN funds research, and through its world-renowned meetings and first-class publications, disseminates information and educational tools that empower physicians.

About Fresenius Medical Care

Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS) is the world’s leading company devoted to patient-oriented renal therapy. Through nearly 2,600 clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, we provide kidney dialysis treatments to approximately 199,000 patients worldwide. We are also the world's leading maker of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. Chronic kidney failure is a condition that affects about 1.9 million individuals worldwide and the only treatments are a kidney transplant or dialysis.

For more information about the company’s more than 1,800 U.S. dialysis facilities, visit www.ultracare-dialysis.com (in English and Spanish). For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit www.fmc-ag.com or www.fmcna.com.