BODY-COMPOSITION IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS MEASURED BY DUAL-ENERGY X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures three of the principal components of the body: fat mass, lean soft-tissue mass (comprising m uscle, inner organs, and the body water), and the bone mineral content . The purpose of this study was to test the estimation capacity of DXA when it is applied to patients with end-stage renal failure. Twenty d ialysis patients were examined by DXA before and after one hemodialysi s session. A highly significant positive correlation between weight me asurements performed by conventional scales and DXA was found. A posit ive correlation between fluid loss during dialysis and reduction in fa t-free mass (lean soft-tissue mass plus bone mineral content) was obse rved by DXA. The estimation of the fat-free mass was independent of th e amount of fluid loss. No significant differences in variance between the data obtained before and after the dialysis were observed. We con clude that DXA is a useful tool for estimating the magnitude of body c ompartments in patients with end-stage renal failure.