Prescribing dialysate bicarbonate concentrations for hemodialysis patients

A rearranged equation of Sargent and Gotch (1) was used to determine dialysate bicarbonate concentrations for hemodialysis patients. Parameters in this equation include an estimate of the acid generated by each patient between treatments, an estimate for the dialyzer dialysance for bicarbonate, ultrafiltration rate, blood flow rate and a targeted mid-dialysis plasma bicarbonate concentration of 25 mEq/L. Nine patients were studied over a 35 week period to verify this method of determining each patient's dialysate bicarbonate concentration. Prescribed dialysate bicarbonate concentrations for the nine patients varied from 29 to 38 mEq/L with five patients having a prescribed value of 35 mEq/L. After a baseline period of five weeks, five patients switched from a 37 mEq/L acetate dialysate to their prescribed dialysate bicarbonate concentration. Four patients who had already been on bicarbonate dialysis at a concentration of 35 mEq/L were dialyzed with their prescribed dialysate bicarbonate concentrations. Patients were then followed for a study period of 30 weeks. The prescribed dialysate bicarbonate concentration resulted in more normal acid/base chemistries for both groups of patients. The results also demonstrate that chronic hemodialysis patients require individualization of dialysate bicarbonate concentrations.