B. Canaud et al., ONLINE DIALYSIS QUANTIFICATION IN ACUTELY ILL PATIENTS - PRELIMINARY CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH A MULTIPURPOSE UREA SENSOR MONITORING DEVICE, ASAIO journal, 44(3), 1998, pp. 184-190
Direct dialysis quantification offers several advantages compared with
conventional blood urea kinetic modeling, and monitoring urea concent
ration in the effluent dialysate with an on-line urea sensor is a prac
tical approach. Such a monitoring device seems desirable in the short-
term dialysis setting to optimize and personalize both renal replaceme
nt therapy and nutritional support of acutely ill patients. We designe
d a urea monitoring device consisting of a urea sensor, a multichannel
hydraulic circuit, and a PC microcomputer. The sensor determines urea
from catalysis of its hydrolysis by urease in liquid solution during
neutral conditions. Hydrolysis of urea produces NH4+, and creates an e
lectrical potential difference between two electrodes. Each concentrat
ion determination of urea is the average value of 10 measurements; sam
ples are diverted and measured every 7 min. Laboratory calibration of
the urea sensor has demonstrated linearity over the range 2-35 mmol/L.
Urea monitoring was performed throughout the treatment course, either
on the effluent dialysate or ultrafiltrate in seven acutely ill patie
nts treated by either hemofiltration (n = 5) or hemodiafiltration (n =
2). The slope of the concentration of urea in the effluent over time
was used to calculate an index of the dialysis dose delivered (Kt/V),
urea mass removal, and protein catabolic rate. In addition, samples of
the effluent were drawn every 21 min, and sent to the central laborat
ory for measurement of urea concentrations using an autoanalyzer. Kt/V
values also were calculated with Garred's equation using pre and post
session concentrations of urea in blood. Concentrations of urea in th
e effluent determined by the urea sensor were found to be very close t
o those obtained from the central laboratory over a wide range of valu
es (3 to 42 mmol/L). In addition, Kt/V values for both hemofiltration
and hemodiafiltration, when calculated with concentrations of urea in
the effluent obtained by the urea sensor, did not significantly differ
from Kt/V values obtained from the laboratory concentrations of urea
in the effluent. On-line urea sensor monitoring of the effluent suppre
sses the cumbersome task of total effluent collection, and the complex
ity of urea kinetic analysis. The multipurpose prototype described her
e represents a new, simple, and direct assessment of dialysis dose and
protein nutritional status of acutely ill patients, and is suitable f
or various modalities.