title: Effect of acetate-free biofiltration with a potassium-profiled dialysate on the control of cardiac arrhythmias in patients at risk: a pilot study.
abstract: Cardiac arrhythmias are a frequent event in chronic hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acetate-free hemofiltration with potassium-profiled dialysate (AFB-K) dialysis compared with constant potassium acetate-free biofiltration (AFB). Twelve patients (mean age 79 years) affected by cardiac arrhythmias or at a high risk for arrhythmia (advanced age, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart valve disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) participated in a single-center, sequential cohort study. All were treated with hemodialysis 3 times per week, using constant potassium AFB for the first 3 weeks, followed by an AFB-K dialysate for the subsequent 3 weeks. The hemofilter, duration of dialysis, and electrolyte concentration were the same in both treatments. Both AFB-K and constant potassium AFB dialytic techniques were safe and well tolerated. The results of biochemical tests were similar, except for serum potassium levels after 2 hr of dialysis, which were significantly higher in the AFB-K group (4.0 mmol/L) than in the constant potassium AFB group (3.6 mmol/L) (p<0.001). All cardiac variables improved during AFB-K dialysis. There was a significant reduction of postdialysis QT intervals corrected for heart rate in the AFB-K group (448.8 ms) compared with the constant potassium AFB group (456.8 ms) (p=0.039). The severity and mean number of ventricular extasystoles also decreased (163.5 vs. 444.5/24 hr). Potassium profiling during hemodialysis treatment may be beneficial for patients with arrhythmias or at those risk of arrhythmias, particularly those with predialysis hyperkalemia.
authors.affiliation: Service of Nephrology, Hospital de Galdakao, Galdácano, Vizcaya, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montenegro
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salcedo
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gallardo
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Quintanilla
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saracho
authors.forename: Iñaki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lekuona
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D017583:Hemodiafiltration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium