A study of calcium concentration of substitution fluid in hemofiltration

Abstract

Calcium balance during hemofiltration was studied in five cases of chronic renal failure in order to determine the optimal concentration of calcium (Ca⁺⁺) in the substitution fluid. Ca⁺⁺ balance was found to be often negative when the ordinary substitution fluid with Ca⁺⁺ concentration 3.5mEq/l. was used. This tendency was observed more frequently when the pre-hemofiltration plasma Ca⁺⁺ concentration was much higher and when the water removed was much larger in amount.
Approximately 400mgs. of Ca⁺⁺ enter the body during five-hour maintenance hemodialysis using the dialysate with Ca⁺⁺ concentration of 3.5mEq/l.
The concentration of Ca⁺⁺ in the substitution fluid should be 4.0 to 4.5mEq/l., if the same amount of Ca⁺⁺ influx be expected during hemofiltration.