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A kidney transplant is the best possible treatment option for patients with kidney failure. If you aren’t eligible for a kidney transplant, or if you are awaiting a kidney from a living or deceased donor, you will need dialysis. 

When it comes to treating kidney failure with dialysis, you have certain options. From dialyzing at home to getting treated at a center, discover which one could better suit your lifestyle.

Home dialysis options

Peritoneal dialysis (PD)

PD is a needle-free treatment done at home that uses the lining of the abdomen (or belly) to filter waste from the blood. It is the treatment most similar to your natural kidney function¹. Some of the potential benefits of PD include:

• Control of your own treatment and a more flexible schedule
• Greater ability to pursue personal interests
• Preservation of remaining kidney function, leading to enhanced clinical outcomes
• Better transplant outcomes because PD is also gentler on the body, including the heart.

Home hemodialysis (HHD)

HHD works just like in-center hemodialysis by using an external filter to clean toxins from your body, only the machine is smaller and more user-friendly. There are many potential benefits to HHD, such as:

• The ability to dialyze in the comfort of your own home
• Greater ability to travel
• Shorter recovery time after treatments²
• Fewer medications required³

Dialysis center options

In-center hemodialysis

In-center hemodialysis requires you to visit a dialysis center three times per week. It uses a machine to filter your blood and clear toxins from your kidneys. In-center hemodialysis offers several potential benefits, which include:

• The chance to socialize with other patients and staff
• A personalized care team
• No supplies to store at home

In-center nocturnal dialysis

In-center nocturnal dialysis allows you to dialyze in-center overnight three times per week, for 6–8 hours while you sleep. It also includes potential benefits such as: 

• No interference with daytime schedule
• An improved appetite⁴
• Better blood pressure control⁵

1. PD: Burkart J and Golper T. www.update.com. Patient information: Peritoneal dialysis (Beyond the Basics). HHD: Galland R et al. Kidney International. 2001;60:155-1560.

2. PD: Renal Resource Center. An Introduction to Peritoneal Dialysis. www.renalresource.com. HHD: Jaber BL et al. Am J Kidney Dis. 2010;56:531-539. Nocturnal: Buqeia A et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Apr;4(4):778-783.

3. PD & HHD: Parker K et al. Kidney J. 2014;7:557-561. Nocturnal: Ok E et al. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2011;26(4):1287-1295.

4. HHD: Galland R et al. Kidney International. 2001;60:1555-1560. Nocturnal: Buqeja A et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Apr;4(4)778-783.

5. PD: St PeterWL et al. BMC Nephrol. 2013; 14:249. HHD: FHN Trial Group. N Engl J Med. 2010 Dec;363(24):2287-2300. Nocturnal: Ranganathan D et al. Indian J Nephrol.