According to a new study, nocturnal or overnight dialysis may be more convenient for some patients and offers some benefits over shorter daytime treatments. Researchers compared the health of patients who received long overnight dialysis sessions with individuals who received conventional 3-day a week dialysis during the day. The overnight therapy occurred three times per week, lasting six hours or more.

Patients who underwent the nocturnal therapy had lower rates of anemia and reduced levels of urea in their blood. Previous studies reported nocturnal dialysis also reduces patients' blood pressure, blood phosphate levels and risk of premature death compared to conventional dialysis.
 
The study concluded long overnight dialysis is a practical way for dialysis units to offer longer dialysis sessions that are well tolerated by most patients.

This article originally appeared in the June 2009 issue of Renal Flash.