THE CORRELATION BETWEEN PROTEIN CATABOLIC RATE AND KT V IN HEMODIALYSIS IS NOT A MATHEMATICAL ARTIFACT/

To test whether the demonstrated correlation between Kt/V urea and nor malised protein catabolic rate (NPCR) is caused by a mathematical arti fact, we examined 12 adult and 8 paediatric haemodialysis patients. Kt /V was determined by the classical method. As an equivalent of NPCR we measured normalised urea generation rate (NUGR) by a one-week collect ion of dialysate and urine using total body water estimated by bioelec trical impedance for normalisation. The correlation between Kt/V and N UGR was 0.58 (all), 0.55 (adults), and 0.62 (children). Since the dete rmination of Kt/V and NUGR are not interdependent, we conclude that th e correlation between Kt/V and protein catabolism is not artifactual.