Ultrafiltration and high sodium concentration dialysis: pathophysiological correlation.

Abstract

Five stabilised uraemic patients underwent two different procedures using the Gambro Ultradiffuser: ultrafiltration alone for one hour (mean body weight loss 2.97 +/- 0.24 kg) and ultrafiltration with simultaneous dialysis for one hour (mean body weight loss 2.92 +/- 0.22 kg) using a given dialysate sodium concentration which reproduced the changes in osmolality which occur during ultrafiltration alone. This mean sodium concentration was 154.75 +/- 2.02 mEq/L. The results did not show significant differences for the two procedures as regards tolerance to dehydration. These results underline the key role of osmolar stability in making dehydration tolerable.