By InvitationNot Applicable

Comparing Hemodiafiltration to Conventional Hemodialysis: Effects on Clinical and Biochemical Parameters

Pakistan64 participantsStarted 2026-05-23

Plain-language summary

Chronic kidney disease may progress to end-stage renal disease, a stage in which the kidneys will no longer be able to adequately remove extra fluid and waste products from the body. Many patients with end-stage renal disease will require regular dialysis to survive. Conventional hemodialysis is the most commonly used dialysis technique and will mainly remove waste products through diffusion. Hemodiafiltration is another dialysis technique that will combine diffusion with convection and may help remove a wider range of waste substances from the blood. This randomized clinical trial will compare hemodiafiltration with conventional hemodialysis in adult patients with end-stage renal disease who are already receiving maintenance dialysis. Eligible participants will be assigned by random allocation to either conventional hemodialysis or hemodiafiltration. Both treatments will be provided as part of routine dialysis care, and no experimental drug will be used. The main purpose of the study will be to determine whether hemodiafiltration will lead to better fluid control compared with conventional hemodialysis. Fluid control will be assessed by measuring the average weight gained between dialysis sessions over a four-week period. The study will also compare selected blood test parameters between the two groups after one month, including hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, serum albumin, total cholesterol, serum calcium, serum phosphate, and intact parathyroid hormone.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 70 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients aged 18-70 years. * Both male or female. * End-stage kidney disease as per operational definition. * On a stable dialysis prescription for at least 3 months, with thrice-weekly sessions (or unit-standard schedule) and stable dry weight assessment. * Clinically stable over the preceding 4 weeks, with no hospitalization or acute intercurrent illness. Exclusion Criteria: * Cardiovascular instability: recurrent intradialytic hypotension (≥30% of sessions in the prior month requiring saline or early termination), uncontrolled hypertension (SBP \>180 mmHg or DBP \>110 mmHg despite therapy), recent acute coronary syndrome, stroke, or decompensated heart failure within 3 months. * Advanced hepatic disease (decompensated cirrhosis or refractory ascites), active systemic infection, chronic inflammatory disease flare, or active malignancy under treatment likely to confound fluid status or survival. * Recent blood transfusion within the preceding 4 weeks, or active bleeding, as these may distort hemoglobin and inflammatory indices. * Advanced chronic liver disease, nephrotic-range protein loss, or other conditions likely to substantially alter serum albumin independent of dialysis modality. * Parathyroidectomy history or current use of intravenous calcimimetics initiation/change within the preceding 4 weeks, if expected to markedly alter intact parathyroid hormone. * Adherence concerns: documented inability to follow fluid/salt advice or to attend …

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Mean Interdialytic Weight Gain

Timeframe: Baseline and one month after randomization.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07662889

SponsorServices Institute of Medical Sciences, Pakistan

Sponsor typeOTHER_GOV

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-11-22

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) trials