[Calcium and phosphate metabolism in hemofiltration (author's transl)]

In 10 patients undergoing hemofiltration treatment acute changes of parameters in the calcium-phosphate metaboism were investigated. Balance studies were also performed in all patients. Control studies were conducted after a 3-month interval in 7 patients. Whereas ionized calcium and 25-HCC remained constant, there was a significant decrease in phosphate, magnesium, fluoride and parathyroid hormone. Corresponding to these results, negative balances could be seen during the course of a hemofiltration treatment: for phosphate a mean value of -593 mg, for magnesium -8.4 mEq and for fluoride -458 microgram. When a calcium content of 3.75 mEq/l was used in the substitution solution, an only slightly positive calcium balance of +1.51 mEq/l (mean value) was found. A significant correlation between calcium and fluid balance was demonstrated by means of 197 filtration treatments of one patient: the calcium balance became negative whenever the fluid loss was greater than 3.86 liters. After a 3-month period no significant changes in the above parameters were found, which indicates, that disturbances in the calcium-phosphate-parathyroid hormone metabolism do not only lie in a reduced renal elimination. Even though our results do not indicate that hemofiltration treatment induces or increases the chances of renal osteodystrophy, the calcium concentration of the substitution solution should be increased to 4.0 mEq/l, in order to guarentee a positive calcium balance even by forced filtration.