ABSTRACT
Substituting bicarbonate by acetate in dialysis fluids has been proposed for avoiding precipitation of calcium and magnesium carbonates. However, acetate hemodialysis has been abandoned because of deleterious effects of acetate. Conventional bicarbonate hemodialysis is not totally acetate-free, because 3 to 7 mEq/l of acetic acid are added to the dialysate. Acetate-free hemodialysis is possible with another acid (chlorhydric acid or citric acid) or without acid by using some techniques of low-efficiency hemodiafiltration, as acetate-free biofiltration, which avoids the deleterious effect of blood acidification into the dialyzer. In this paper, advantages and disadvantages of different techniques of acetate-free hemodialysis are discussed.
Subject(s)
Bicarbonates/administration & dosage , Hemodiafiltration/methods , Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy , Acetates/adverse effects , Bicarbonates/adverse effects , Bicarbonates/pharmacology , Hemodiafiltration/adverse effects , Hemodialysis Solutions , Humans , Kidney Failure, Chronic/metabolism , Quality of Life , Renal Dialysis/methods , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Recent publications have indicated that alterations in bone and mineral metabolism are known to participate to a high mortality rate in patients undergoing haemodialysis. A new therapeutic strategy is progressively undertaken in the dialysis unit over a 36 months period covering years 2002 to 2004. METHODS: This new strategy includes the prescription of non-calcium, non-aluminium phosphate binder, sevelamer hydrochloride, an increase in vitamin D analogues prescription and a moderation in calcium carbonate administration. Sixty patients participated to the entire study and are evaluated three times a year on the four K/DOQI parameters. Other indicators such as haemoglobin, bicarbonate, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels were studied. RESULTS: At the beginning of the study, 7% of the patients achieved the four K/DOQI parameters. This proportion seemed identical to those observed in the major studies. But progressively with the new therapeutic strategy 13%, then 21%, and at the end of the study 35% reached the four criteria. Therapeutic calcium intakes decreased from 100 g per patient/month to 28 g per patient-month. Prescription of vitamin D analogues increased from 3.3 microg per patient-month to 18.3 microg per patient/month. At the end of the study 60% of the patients received sevelamer hydrochloride at the mean dosage of 4800 mg per day. Haemoglobin remains stable. Bicarbonate level decreased due to a minor prescription in calcium carbonate. Under statins the ratio total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol decreased to 3.3. CONCLUSION: A modification in the therapeutic strategy offer to patients undergoing haemodialysis, the possibility to achieve the K/DOQI recommendations with the hope to obtain a beneficial effect on patient outcomes.
