[Vitamin K1 and C metabolism in uremia during hemodialysis]

Plasma concentrations of vitamin K1, ascorbic acid and its derivatives were investigated in uremic patients during a session of systemic hemodialysis at the dialyzers input, output and in dialyzing solution. The data showed practically unchanged clearances of vitamin C and diketogulonic acid during the session of hemodialysis. In the course of its passage through the dialyzer, plasma ascorbic acid was partially oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid, partially it converted to a dialysate, partially it returned to the human body. Plasma level of vitamin K1 in uremic patients was 1.8 times lower than that in the healthy; 24-hour its excretion in uremic patients and in the healthy was similar. It is supposed that the vitamin K1 decrease correlates with lipoid changes in uremia. During a session of hemodialysis no significant vitamin K1 losses were revealed.