title: What is the appropriate dialysate calcium concentration for the dialysis patient?
abstract: Recently, there has been a trend to lower dialysate calcium concentrations because of the frequent occurrence of hypercalcaemia with the use of calcium-containing phosphate binders. No single dialysate calcium concentration is available which suits all dialysis patients. The risk of hypercalcaemia depends on intradialytic (diffusive and convective) calcium transport and interdialytic calcium balance (negative or positive intestinal balance). Low dialysate calcium concentrations expose the patient to the risks of negative calcium balance and increase in parathyroid hormone concentration, particularly if patients are non-compliant with the intake of calcium-containing phosphate binders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ruperto Carola University, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ritz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Passlick-Deetjen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lippert
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory
chemical_list: D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D002118:Calcium