Metabolic alkalosis in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND

Hemodialysis solutions typically contain a high alkali concentration designed to counter interdialytic acidosis, but this could result in persistent alkalosis in some patients. The prevalence and significance of persistent alkalosis were therefore examined at four outpatient centers over a 10-year period.

METHODS

Alkalosis was defined as a pre-dialysis serum [HCO3 ] ≥ 26 meq/L in >6 months of a 12-month period and was persistent if present in a majority of months thereafter. Control patients had a serum [HCO3 ] of 19-23 meq/L > 6 of every 12 months. Standard, citrate-containing dialysate was used in all patients without adjustment of bicarbonate concentration.

RESULTS

444 of 1271 patients had alkalosis that persisted in 73. Compared to control patients, persistently alkalotic patients were older, but gender, race, starting weight, comorbidities, and mortality did not differ. Dialysis dose was 7% greater, protein catabolic rate was 11% lower, and interdialytic weight gain was 29% lower, all p < 0.001. Persistently alkalotic patients had double the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias (p = 0.07) and a 20% greater intradialytic blood pressure decrease (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Alkalosis is common in hemodialysis patients and can be persistent, likely due to decreased protein catabolic rate and increased dialysis dose, and may have detrimental cardiovascular effects.