[Which index to choose for quantification of the adequacy of filtration method in the hemodialysis patient?]

Abstract

On the basis of a retrospective re-analysis of the data from the National Cooperative Dialysis Study, Sargent and Gotch have proposed the normalized index KT/V as an index of the level of dialytic therapy. However the current methods of calculating KT/V are complex for routine clinical use and require great care in order to avoid major inaccuracies on the estimation of dialyzer urea clearance and the subsequent calculation of the volume of distribution of urea. As the pre to post-dialytic plasma urea ratio C0/CF is a function of dialyzer urea clearance, duration of dialysis and urea distribution volume of the patient, it might well correlate with KT/V. The simplified index I = 1.2 x ln (C0/CF) is well correlating (r = 0.9; n = 15) and well approximating (3%) with KT/V and with other indexes derived from various formulas. Consequently the use of this index is electively proposed for routine determination of the quantification of dialysis.