Effects of acetate during regular hemodialysis

The utilization of acetate and its effects on acid-base balance and on free fatty acid metabolism were investigated during regular hemodialysis (HD). Fourteen patients with chronic renal failure were studied during two successive dialysis treatments for which either acetate or bicarbonate were used as a buffer anion in the dialysate. In the acetate studies the mean plasma acetate concentration in the arterial line rose from 0.16 mM to 4.67 mM, while it rose from 0.17 mM to 0.62 mM during bicarbonate dialysis. There was a linear relationship between acetate utilization and the acetate concentration in the venous line. The increase of the blood pH during bicarbonate HD was due to an immediate increase of HCO3, whereas acetate caused a smaller HCO3 rise and a pronounced fall of the pCO2. The heart rate was higher during acetate than during bicarbonate HD. During both types of dialysis there was a twofold rise of total FFA as well as the individual fatty acids palmitate, palmitoleate, oleate, stearate and linoleate which was of similar magnitude when acetate or bicarbonate were used. The postulated antilipolytic effect of the short-chain fatty acid acetate could not be demonstrated under the circumstances of routine hemodialysis. Pre-dialysis dopamine was elevated in 7 of the 11 patients and remained high during both types of HD; other hormones were normal during acetate and bicarbonate HD.