ONLINE UREA MONITORING - A FURTHER STEP TOWARDS ADEQUATE DIALYSIS PRESCRIPTION AND DELIVERY

The aim of this study is to present a clinical experience carried out with a new device designed to measure on-line Urea Nitrogen concentrat ion in the effluent dialysate. The Biostat 1000(R) Urea Monitor (Baxte r Healthcare, Dirfield, Ill, USA) was utilized in the present study. T he monitor is based on the principle that multiple urea measurements i n the dialysate effluent from the dialyzer, permit to built a double e xponential regression leading to the urea kinetic parameters of the di alysis session. Data obtained with the Urea Monitor were, in the prese nt study, compared with those obtained by direct measurements carried out in blood and dialysate and by the collection of the whole amount o f spent dialysate. The monitor provided an accurate value of predialys is BUN without any blood drawing. Urea kinetics were established from multiple dialysate measurements and no blood drawing was necessary. Th e double pool kinetics were taken into account and Kt/V, PCR and SRI% obtained were comparable to those obtained from direct measurement. Si nce a projected value of Kt/V can be obtained the monitor could repres ent a potential source of information to detect possible filter and ma chine dysfunction, as well as high rate of recirculation.