Improvement in disequilibrium symptoms during dialysis with low glucose dialyzate

This study compares the frequency of dialysis disequilibrium symptoms (DDS), in 17 stable non-diabetic chronic hemodialysis patients, during a period using low glucose (200 mg/100 ml) dialyzate to a similar period using a glucose free dialyzate. There was a significant decrease in the total number of symptoms as well as the frequency of headache and post-dialysis fatigue during the low glucose period as compared to the glucose free period. The decrease in nausea or vomiting, and cramps was not significant while frequency of hypotension was unchanged. Evaluation of serum sodium, potassium, BUN, glucose and osmolarity did not reveal significant differences during the two periods. Dialysis with a low glucose bath produces less DDS than glucose free dialyzate.