Adequacy of hemodialysis.

Abstract

The concept adequate includes blood purification, maintenance of electrolyte fluid, and acid-base equilibrium. Dialysis can completely reverse the retention of some small molecules, electrolytes (K, Na, Mg), water and acid-base, and has no effect on anemia, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, cardiomyopathies, malnutrition, bleeding, or partial effect on Ca-P balances. Other therapeutic interventions are necessary to optimally treat the uremic syndromes. Urea kinetic modelling is probably the most objective way of measuring the efficiency of dialysis but we must remember that there are numerous alterations in ESRD which cannot be measured by urea kinetic modelling.