In a uraemic patient population with low-grade inflammation treated with HV-OL-HDF, we observed a significant reduction of ERI values as well as HEP levels. The positive correlation between these two parameters supports a role for HEP in the development of ERI in the dialytic population. Moreover, the lower b2MG and the higher Kt/V achieved in HV-OL-HDF confirms the better depurative effect of this technique in comparison with BHD with respect to middle molecules and small-molecular-weight molecules.

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This is a cross-sectional, multicenter, controlled study aiming to evaluate changes of actual dietary nutrient intake in 94 stable hemodialysis patients in respect to 52 normal subjects and guideline recommendations, and to assess the prevalence of signs of malnutrition. Energy and nutrients intake assessment was obtained by a three-day period food recall. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters of nutrition, bioelectric impedance vector analysis, and subjective global assessment (SGA) have been performed to assess nutritional status. SGA-B was scored in 5% of the patients. Body mass index < 20 Kg/m(2), serum albumin <35 g/L, nPNA < 1.0 g/Kg, and phase angle <4.0 degrees were detected in 16.3%, 16%, 23%, and 8.0 % of patients, respectively. HD patients showed a lower energy and protein intake in respect to controls, but no difference occurred when normalized per ideal body weight (29.3 +/- 8.4 vs. 29.5 +/- 8.4 Kcal/Kg i.b.w./d and 1.08 +/- 0.35 vs. 1.12 +/- 0.32 Kcal/Kg i.b.w. /d, respectively). Age was the only parameter that inversely correlates with energy (r = -0.35, p < 0.001) and protein intake (r = -0.34, p < 0.001). This study shows that in stable dialysis patients, abnormalities of nutritional parameters are less prevalent than expected by analysis of dietary food intake. Age is the best predictor of energy and protein intake in the dialysis patients who ate less than normal people, but no difference emerged when energy and protein intakes were normalized for body weight. These results recall the attention for individual dietetic counseling in HD patients, and also for a critical re-evaluation of their dietary protein and energy requirements.

Plasma and erythrocyte magnesium (Mg) concentrations were measured in uremics on regular hemodialysis, in healthy persons and in patients with anemia due to causes other than renal failure. The mean plasma Mg concentration was found to be significantly higher in the uremic patients than in other subjects. The erythrocyte Mg concentration in anemic uremics and in nonuremic anemics was found to be higher than in normal subjects and a close inverse relationship was found between this figure and the hematocrit. It seems reasonable to argue that anemia, rather than renal failure, is related to the high concentration of Mg in erythrocytes.

The determination of whole blood magnesium concentration (MgT) was investigated in uremics on chronic dialysis with a broad range of hematocrit (Ht) and of plasma magnesium concentration (MgP). In view of the inverse correlation between erythrocyte magnesium concentration (MgC) and Ht in dialyzed uremics, as shown in our previous paper, it was possible to derive a formula which expressed MgT in terms of MgP and Ht. By exploring the predictive power of this formula, it can be concluded that MgT can be calculated directly from MgP and Ht.

The correlation between whole blood potassium concentration (Kt) and hematocrit (Ht) was investigated in subjects with a broad range of Ht. This relationship was found to be represented by a curve, and its form was derived by the manipulation of the formula concerning the inverse correlation between Ht and erythrocyte potassium concentration (Kc).

Plasma and erythrocyte potassium (K) concentrations were measured in uremics on chronic dialysis and in a control group composed of healthy persons and of patients with anemia due to causes other than renal failure. The behavior of the erythrocyte K content in uremics did not differ from that of the control group and in both cases a close inverse relationship was present between hematocrit and erythrocyte K concentration, irrespective of its plasma level. These findings suggest that the red blood cell count, rather than renal failure, may affect the erythrocyte K content.

The correlation between whole blood potassium (K) concentration and hematocrit (Ht) was investigated in chronically dialyzed uremics with a broad range of Ht. This correlation was found to be represented by a curve and its form was derived by the manipulation of the formula concerning the inverse relationship between erythrocyte K concentration and Ht. These findings show that in dialyzed patients the whole blood K concentration can be correctly predicted from any Ht value, despite their wide range of plasma K concentration.