Moderate metabolic acidosis and its effects on serum parameters in hemodialysis patients

We screened the laboratory data of 50 chronic hemodialysis patients selecte d randomly over a 21-month period to generate 158 data points which identif ied two groups: (I)those with a predialysis total CO2 concentration less th an or equal to 19 mEq/l (data A; n = 57) and (2) those with a predialysis t otal CO2 concentration greater than 19 mEq/l (data B; n = 101). Then, both groups were compared for the following parameters: predialysis blood urea n itrogen (BUN), serum phosphorus, uric acid, creatinine, and albumin concent rations, Kt/V, urea reduction ratio, normalized protein catabolic rate, dry weight, ultrafiltration, blood flow and dialysis flow rates, duration of d ialysis treatment, and blood pressure. Group data A had significantly highe r predialysis BUN, phosphorus, and uric acid concentrations than group data B. There were significant inverse correlations between predialysis serum b icarbonate and predialysis BUN, phosphorus, and uric acid concentrations. A lthough it is not clear what the long term side effects of moderate metabol ic acidosis are, we recommend its correction. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Baser.