Clinical utility of far-infrared therapy for improvement of vascular access blood flow and pain control in hemodialysis patients

• Published in: Kidney research and clinical practice Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 35 - 41
• Main Authors: Choi, S.J, Cho, E.H, Jo, H.M, Min, C, Ji, Y.S, Park, M.Y, Kim, J.K, Hwang, S.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Elsevier B.V 01-03-2016; Elsevier; The Korean Society of Nephrology; 대한신장학회
• Subjects: Arteriovenous fistula; Far-infrared therapy; Hemodialysis; Nephrology; Original; Pain; 내과학; Arteriovenous fistula; Pain; Hemodialysis; Far-infrared therapy
• ISSN: 2211-9132; 2211-9140
• DOI: 10.1016/j.krcp.2015.12.001

Abstract Objective Maintenance of a well-functioning vascular access and the presence of minimal needling pain are important goals for achieving adequate dialysis and improving the quality of life of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Far-infrared (FIR) therapy improved endothelial function and increased access blood flow (Qa) and patency in HD patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of FIR therapy on Qa and patency, and needling pain in HD patients. Methods This prospective clinical trial enrolled 25 outpatients who maintained HD with AVF. The other 25 patients were matched as control with age-, sex-, and diabetes. FIR therapy was administered for 40 min during HD three times per week and continued for 12 months. The Qa was measured by the ultrasound dilution method, while pain was measured by a numeric rating scale at baseline, then once per month. Results One year of FIR therapy improved the needling pain score from 4 to 2, but tended to increase Qa (881.6 vs 937 ml/min, p=0.788). One patient was transferred to another facility, and seven patients stopped FIR therapy because of an increased body temperature and discomfort. FIR therapy increased the Qa by 3 months and maintained this change until 1-year, while control patients had the decrease of Qa. The 1-year unassisted patency of FIR therapy was no significant different with control. Conclusions FIR therapy doesn’t improve the unassisted patency compared with the control, but improve needling pain. More larger and multicenter study is needed to evaluate the effect of FIR therapy.