The role of pharmaceutical agents in appetite stimulation in patients with end-stage renal disease

Objective: To evaluate the potential role of appetite stimulants in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Data Sources: Published literature pertaining to the nutritional status of dialysis patients and pharmaceutical agents that have been reported to stimulate appetite in patients with anorexia.

Data Synthesis: Malnutrition is prevalent in ESRD. Multiple factors including anorexia contribute to the etiology of this comorbid condition in dialysis patients. At present, nutritional strategies used in the clinical setting to treat malnutrition include both enteral and parenteral support. In other disease states in which anorexia is common, eg, advanced cancer and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the use of some pharmaceutical agents to stimulate appetite has been effective. This article reviews these agents and their possible role in patients with ESRD.

Conclusion: The use of pharmaceutical agents to stimulate appetite may prove to be beneficial in treating dialysis patients. Further studies are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of these drugs in this population.