title: Dissociation between dialysis adequacy and Kt/V.
abstract: Since the initiation of dialysis, nephrologists have sought an index (or indices) for the adequacy of toxic solute removal. This quest has been characterized by a gradual shift in thinking, ending with a preference for dynamic parameters such as clearances normalized for body size (Kt/V). The threshold Kt/V, however, has changed over the years. While present guidelines suggest 1.2 with single-pool kinetics, higher levels might be proposed in the future. In spite of the known relation between Kt/V and survival, the accuracy of this parameter as a representative of the removal of the whole spectrum of compounds that are responsible for uremia is problematic. Kt/V only assesses the removal of a water-soluble compound from the body water through mostly hydrophilic membranes to the dialysate water. Furthermore, the small size of urea means that convective and/or diffusive transfer through a given semipermeable membrane is unlikely to be representative of larger molecules, especially if dialyzers with a small pore size are applied. Urea kinetics are also poorly representative of the removal of small protein-bound molecules and intracellular solutes with cell membrane-limited clearance. Finally, it should be realized that the Kt/V concept has been developed in a specific population, that is, a group of renal failure patients with few comorbidities, submitted to short intermittent hemodialysis with small-pore bioincompatible membranes very likely using dialysate of lower quality than that used today. Kt/V might well become less accurate and useful in predicting outcomes as different dialysis conditions are pursued, such as dialysis with biocompatible and/or large-pore membranes, (ultra) pure dialysate, alternative time frames, high levels of convection, and/or in populations with a different distribution of body mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology Unit, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. raymond.vanholder@rug.ac.be
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanholder
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeSmet
authors.forename: Gerrit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lesaffer
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014508:Urea