News Release

	HomeChoice Pediatric Automated Peritoneal Dialysis System Fact Sheet Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Fact Sheet

What is HomeChoice Pediatric?

HomeChoice Pediatric is a new automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) system that is designed to deliver a lower fill volume -- 60mL -- 1,000mL -- which is required for patients of a smaller body size and weight. Fill volume is the amount of fluid delivered to the patient's peritoneal cavity during each dialysis cycle. The appropriate amount of fluid is based on the patient's height and weight.

HomeChoice Pediatric is one of Baxter's peritoneal dialysis (PD) machines, a therapy that is usually performed in the home.

What are the benefits of using HomeChoice Pediatric?

• Improved patient ease-of-use
• Comprehensive internal alarm system with increased protection against false alarms
• Advanced overfill protection and fluid management
• Exclusive PD Link software, which enables the physician to remotely monitor therapy and modify prescriptions as needed. Data is transmitted via modem and/or the PRO Card.
• Enhanced problem identification and monitoring of patient compliance
• Provides physicians with one PD machine suitable for both their adult and pediatric patients
• Convenient, compact size that allows for easy storage and portability

Who should use HomeChoice Pediatric?
The HomeChoice Pediatric dialysis system is intended for use in young dialysis patients who require a fill volume of less than one liter of dialysis solution. On average, this includes infants and adolescents (usually between the ages of 0 and 12 years old) who are under the body weight limit of 20 kg or 44 lbs. To better accommodate pediatric patients, HomeChoice Pediatric is equipped with low fill volume drain technology and low re-circulation volume tubing to ensure the correct amount of fluid is delivered. Peritoneal dialysis is not appropriate for all pediatric patients and parents should consult with their physician to determine the right form of dialysis for their child.

How is HomeChoice Pediatric administered?
Peritoneal dialysis machines, such as HomeChoice Pediatric, utilize a catheter, surgically implanted catheter in the abdomen or peritoneal cavity, which serves as the body's natural filter for cleaning out wastes and toxins from the body-a function that is performed by healthy kidneys. The peritoneal membrane lines the area that holds the stomach, spleen, liver and intestines. HomeChoice Pediatric delivers dialysis solution through the catheter to the peritoneal cavity. Wastes and toxins pass from the bloodstream across the peritoneal membrane into the dialysis solution. Then, HomeChoice Pediatric drains the dialysis solution through the catheter, and this cycle is repeated until the therapy session is completed.

What is the PRO Card?
The PRO Card is a small electronic data card that stores the patient's prescription and other device settings, and sets up the system for the patient. It PRO Card also automatically records the results of each treatment, which can then be transferred to the physician either using a disk or transmitting through a modem. The data card currently offered with the system can hold data for a minimum of 60 days of patient treatments.

What safety features does HomeChoice Pediatric offer patients?
The HomeChoice Pediatric dialysis system offers built-in safety features to manage and monitor the amount of fluid present throughout the dialysis procedure to ensure the patient receives the proper quantity of solution. During dialysis, if the therapy varies from what the physician has prescribed an alarm will sound and a message will appear on the machine's display to alert the parent to a problem.

What is the availability of HomeChoice Pediatric?
HomeChoice Pediatric was cleared for marketing in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2001, and will be available in early 2002. It was also recently approved by the EU for use in European member countries. HomeChoice PRO has been available to adult kidney patients for five years in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.

Who makes HomeChoice Pediatric?
HomeChoice Pediatric is manufactured by Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Baxter is a leading provider of renal products and services worldwide. In 1956, the company introduced the first disposable coil dialyzer, a development that greatly enhanced the use and application of hemodialysis. Nearly 20 years later, Baxter was one of the first companies to introduce PD.

Baxter Healthcare Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baxter International Inc., a global medical products and services company that, through its subsidiaries, provides critical therapies for people with life-threatening conditions. Baxter's products and services in bioscience (biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, biosurgery products and transfusion therapies), medication delivery and renal therapy are used by health-care providers and their patients in more than 100 countries.

How can I get more information about HomeChoice Pediatric?
For more information about HomeChoice Pediatric, please contact Stephanie Lazor at 212-213-7265, or via e-mail at stephanie.lazor@mslpr.com.

How can I get more information about pediatric kidney disease?
For more information about pediatric kidney disease, please visit www.kidneydirections.com.

(HomeChoice Pediatric, HomeChoice PRO, PD Link and PRO Card are trademarks of Baxter International Inc. and its affiliates).