Clinical and dialysis‐related characteristics of extremely long‐term hemodialysis survivors: Three case reports

Malgaj Vrečko, Marija; Ponikvar, Rafael; Gubenšek, Jakob; Buturović Ponikvar, Jadranka

More than 40‐year hemodialysis survivors are living evidence of the achievements of hemodialysis therapy. We present the case reports of three patients treated by chronic hemodialysis for 47 (Patient 1), 43 (Patient 2), and 42 years (Patient 3) from a single center. These patients possess characteristics that were already shown to be associated with improved long‐term survival: initiation of hemodialysis at a young age, absence of diabetes, and a relatively low and stable body weight with good nutritional status. Although all of them underwent complications of long‐term hemodialysis treatment, they lived (Patient 3), or are still living (Patients 1 and 2), an independent and full life. Their hemodialysis prescriptions included long sessions with a moderate blood flow rate, state‐of‐the‐art hemodialysis technology, vascular access surgeries and care provided by nephrologists, good overall management of chronic kidney disease, and preventive measures and/or immediate action in case of cardiovascular disease.