Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In bicarbonate-based hemodialysis, dialysate total calcium (tCa) concentration may have effects on mineral metabolism.

STUDY DESIGN:

Randomized crossover trial of 3 dialysate tCa concentrations (2.5, 2.75, and 3.0 mEq/L).

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS:

22 stable anuric uremic patients underwent three 4-hour bicarbonate hemodialysis sessions with the 3 different dialysate tCa concentrations using a single-pass batch dialysis system.

OUTCOMES:

Hourly measurements of plasma water ionized calcium (iCa) and plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations. tCa mass balances were measured from the dialysate side.

RESULTS:

Hourly plasma water iCa concentrations were higher with a dialysate tCa concentration of 3.0 compared with 2.75 and 2.5 mEq/L (P < 0.05), as were iCa concentrations at the end of dialysis sessions (2.66 ± 0.1, 2.56 ± 0.12, and 2.4 ± 0.08 mEq/L, respectively; P < 0.001). Mean tCa mass balance values (diffusion gradient from the dialysate to the patient) were positive with all dialysate tCa concentrations and increased progressively with dialysate tCa concentration (75 ± 122, 182 ± 125, and 293 ± 228 mg, respectively; P < 0.001). Plasma PTH levels increased during dialysis using dialysate tCa concentration of 2.5 mEq/L (mean increase, 225 ± 312 pg/mL) and decreased with dialysate tCa concentrations of 2.75 and 3.0 mEq/L (mean decreases, 68 ± 325 and 99 ± 432 pg/mL, respectively).

LIMITATIONS:

Small sample size and lack of measurement of total-body calcium mass balances.

CONCLUSIONS:

A dialysate tCa concentration of 2.75 mEq/L might be preferable to 2.5 or 3.0 mEq/L because it is associated with mildly positive tCa mass balance values, plasma water iCa levels in the reference range, and stable PTH levels during dialysis.

Copyright © 2011 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.