Hydrostatic Ultrafiltration During Hemodialysis Using Decreasing Sodium Dialysate

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Twelve patients underwent hemodialysis using dialysate containing 130 meq/l Na, and on a separate occasion, dialysis using a dialysate of constantly decreasing Na concentration (from 150 to 133 meq/l). Hydrostatic ultrafiltration during dialysis was performed at a constant rate (900 ml/h) during both treatments and was continued until a substantial drop in mean arterial pressure (-15%) or symptoms were observed. A double-blind comparison of the 2 treatment modalities was achieved. At the end of ultrafiltration, significantly more fluid had been removed using decreasing Na dialysate (2.9 .+-. 0.3 kg) than when using the low-Na dialysate (1.9 .+-. 0.2 kg, P < 0.001). Plasma Na concentration at the end of ultrafiltration using Na dialysate was not significantly different from the predialysis level. Hydrostatic ultrafiltration using a dialysate of decreasing Na level may be a useful means of removing excess fluid asymptomatically from dialysis patients.