USE OF A PHOSPHORUS-ENRICHED HEMODIALYSATE TO PREVENT HYPOPHOSPHATEMIA IN A PATIENT WITH RENAL FAILURE-RELATED PERICARDITIS

We describe a patient who suffered from renal failure-associated peric arditis and underwent daily 3.5-hour hemodialysis treatments for 17 da ys. The initially elevated serum phosphorus level gradually fell to be low normal on days 11 and 12 as a result of the intensive dialytic the rapy. Phosphorus was added to the ''base concentrate'' of a dual-conce ntrate, bicarbonate-based dialysate delivery system on days 13 to 17. Because of this phosphorus-enrichment, we were able to maintain the pa tient's serum phosphorus levels within normal limits in spite of conti nued daily dialysis treatments.