CIN '2007 - 4o CONGRESSO DE NEFROLOGIA NA INTERNET
Dyskalemias in peritoneal dialysis: their causes and treatments
Dr Carlos Musso
Nephrology Division - Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires
Abstract
Despite general physicist principles applied in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis are the same ones, the rate of potassium removal is markedly slower in the former (1). Peritoneal clearance for potassium averages about 17 ml/minute for intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD), and approximately 7 ml/minute for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). These values are between those for urea and creatinine clearances. Interestingly, during the first hour of a dwell, potassium clearance is higher (24 ml/minute) than that of the remaining period and the most probable explanation for these high values is the release of potassium from the cells that line the peritoneal cavity. This release may be promoted by the initial low pH and/ or by the hyperosmolality of the instilled dialysate (2). Standard peritoneal dialysis solutions contain no potassium.Comments: