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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Direct Detection of the Acetate-forming Activity of the Enzyme Acetate Kinase
Published on: December 19, 2011
[Bicarbonate versus acetate hemodialysis: effects on the acid-base status]
E Avdic1, E Suljevic, D Helac-Cvijetic
1Institut za nefrologiju, KCU Sarajevo.
Background:
Metabolic acidosis is an inevitable complication of chronic renal failure and one the major goals of haemodialysis (HD) treatment is correction of acidosis. The main aim of study was to compare effects of bicarbonate versus (vs) acetate HD on acid-base.
Methods:
A sample of 36 patients (pts) was done, 20 males and 16 females, aged 52.4 +/- 12.7 years, duration on HD 46.8 +/- 40.2 months, 15 pts on acetate and 21 pts on bicarbonate HD. We determined the parameters of acid-base before and after HD, electrolyte status, Kt/V and URR.
Results:
At start of HD: pH-7.33 +/- 0.04; pCO2-4.95 +/- 0.5 kPa; HCO3 19.1 +/- 1.9 mmol/L on bicarbonate HD vs. pH-7.33 +/- 0.03; pCO2-4.81 +/- 0.4kPa; HCO3(-)-18.7 +/- 2.0 mmol/L on acetate HD. At the end of session: pH-7.45 +/- 0.02; pCO2-5.07 +/- 0.4 kPa; HCO3(-)-26.3 +/- 1.5 mmol/L on bicarbonate HD vs. pH-7.43 +/- 0.03; pCO2-4.55 +/- 0.3 kPa; HCO3(-)-22.6 +/- 1.8 mmol/L on acetate HD.
Conclusion:
Bicarbonate as a physiological buffer is much efficient in correction of metabolic acidosis and should be preferred in HD treatment.
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