THE EFFECT OF CHANGES IN DIALYSATE VOLUME ON GLUCOSE AND UREA EQUILIBRATION

Objectives: To determine the effect of changing dialysate volume on ur ea and glucose equilibration curves and to determine, if dialysate vol ume is prescribed on the basis of body surface area, whether equilibra tion curves will be consistent in patients of different sizes and ages . Design: A prospective study wherein children with acute or chronic r enal failure had peritoneal equilibration studies done with dwell volu mes of 30 mL/kg, 40 mL/kg, and 1200 mL/M2. Patient Population: Twenty- two children: 7 under 3 years of age; 8 between 3 and 10 years of age; 7 older than 10 years of age. Statistics: Student's t-test. Results: Urea and glucose equilibrated rapidly at dwell volumes of 30 mL/kg, sl ower at dwell volumes of 40 mL/kg, and slowest at dwell volumes of 120 0 mL/M2. Equilibration curves were similar in children of different ag es when dialysate volumes of 1200 mL/m2 were infused. Conclusion: Dial ysate volumes of 1200 mL/M2 should be used when equilibration studies are being done to compare individuals of different ages and sizes.