[Sodium intake and interdialytic weight gain]

In patients with end stage renal diseases the excess of fluid and salt was distributed towards the extracellular space. Dialysis treatment plays a part in restoring equilibrium but compliance with a fluid and salt restriction is necessary to avoid chronic overhydration. Interdialytic weight gain is usually regarded as indicating low compliance because of abnormal thirst regulation, hormonal derangements, and social, cultural, and psychological factors. Some studies confirm that changing sodium balance, during interdialytic period, can modify interdialytic weight gain. However, a close relationship has been found between interdialytic weight gain and nutritional parameters confirming the potential role of this parameter as marker of adequate calorie and protein intake. The observations that interdialytic weight gain has never been found to be positively associated with an increased morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients suggest that the well-known deleterious effects of volume overload may be balanced by positive beneficial consequence of good nutrition.