[Is there any correlation between urea kinetics and the clinical outcomes in CAPD patients?]

Urea kinetic modeling was applied to 19 CAPD patients followed in our outpatient clinics. Serum beta 2-microglobulin was also measured as a marker of large molecular weight substances. Clinical conditions of patients were assessed by both doctors and patients. Patient's assessment were done by the questionnaire. Indices of urea kinetics (KT/V, PCR) and biochemical parameters were compared between well-treated and not well-treated patients judging from patient's and doctor's assessment scores. The rate of peritonitis was significantly higher in the latter group. None of the parameters were different between 2 groups except for serum albumin. There was a significant correlation between serum concentration of albumin and doctor's assessment score (gamma = 0.52). In conclusion, urea kinetic parameters is not a good indicator for adequacy of dialysis in our CAPD population. Serum albumin seems to be one of the indices for adequate dialysis. However, clinical symptoms and signs are more valuable than biochemical parameters for the assessment of adequacy of dialysis.