Abstract
Studies were performed to measure total body water in normal subjects (control), nephrotic patients with or without edema, and hemodialysis patients by using deuterium oxide. Analysis was performed by gas chromatography in conjunction with the platinum catalyst method. The 99.8% deuterium oxide was intravenously administrated to controls and nephrotic and hemodialysis patients. It took three hours to reach equilibration in the body water pool whether edema was present or not. Total body water to body weight ratio (TBW/BW) in controls and nephrotic and hemodialysis patients were 61.2±1.2%, 71.3±3.7% (with edema), 60.9±6.4% (without edma), 64.5±6.9% (pre-HD), 62.6±6.6 (post-HD), respectively, TBW/BW of nephrotic patients with edema was significant greater than that of controls (p<0.01), nephrotic patients without edema (p<0.01), and post-hemodialysis patients (p<0.05). TBW/BW of hemodialysis patients tended to be overhydrated in comparison with controls. Urine samples may also be used to calculate total body water. It is useful to determine TBW by using deuterium oxide for the management of body fluid in nephrotic and hemodialysis patients.
