UREA KINETIC MODELING - COMPARING THE OPTIONS

In this study 6 commercially produced kinetic modeling packages utiliz ing a variable volume, single pool urea model, as well as formulae to determine the delivery of therapy, have been compared by applying to e ach the same set of rigorously collected data for a group of 12 patien ts. Comparison of the kinetically derived parameters (urea generation rate [G], urea distribution volume [V], delivery of therapy [Kt/V], an d normalized protein catabolic rate [nPCR]) showed that the values obt ained for both G and V differed between packages owing to the numerica l methods and the clearance used in the solution of the differential e quations. Although a broad agreement between the values established fo r Kt/V and nPCR was noted, the 95% limits of agreement indicated that it would be prudent to exercise caution when comparing results establi shed by different modeling packages.