TOTAL-BODY WATER MEASUREMENT IN RENAL-INSUFFICIENCY

Total body water was measured in 15 children with renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate <25 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)) using deuterium oxide dilution. Total body water was also measured using bioelectrical impedance and skinfold anthropometry in the same 15 children. There w as a linear correlation (r = 0.98, P <0.01) between total body water m easured by deuterium and height(2)/impedance. The 95% confidence limit s for estimates of total body water were -1.5 to 0.9 for impedance and 0.65-3.16 1 for skinfold anthropometry when compared with deuterium d ilution. Bioelectrical impedance estimation of total body water is bet ter than the current existing non-invasive method of skinfold anthropo metry.