Intradialytic parenteral nutrition in chronic hemodialysis patients

The effects of intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) were studied in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients who had a normalized protein catabolic rate (PCRN) of less than or equal to 0.8 g/kg/day, and KT/V = 0.94 +/- 0.04. Intradialytic parenteral nutrition was administered during thrice weekly CHD for 3-6 months, and consisted of essential and nonessential amino acids (42.5 g), glucose (125 g), and lipid emulsion (50 g). Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, albumin, transferrin, pre-albumin, total lymphocyte count, anthropometrics, protein catabolic rate, 3 day historic dietary protein intake, and dietary energy intake (DEI) were measured at baseline, before IDPN, during IDPN, and at completion of IDPN. Six of nine enrolled patients completed the study. Reasons for withdrawal included nausea and hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. DPI normalized for body weight (DPIN) increased significantly from 0.75 +/- 0.1 to 1.02 +/- 0.18 (p = 0.02). Increases in PCRN (0.57 +/- 0.18 to 0.78 +/- 0.2) and DEI (1495 +/- 266 to 1681 +/- 358) did not reach statistical significance. More aggressive IDPN or a longer study period may be necessary to assess this form of nutritional intervention.