Clinical Validation of a Predictive Modeling Equation for Sodium

Changes in plasma sodium (Na) concentration during hemodialysis were predicted by changes in Na concentration of the dialysate at equilibrium with the plasma, according to the formula C't = CD - (CD - C'0) [(V0 - QFt)/V0]A/QF, where C'0 and C't are the Na concentration of the dialysate at equilibrium with the plasma at times 0 and t, respectively; QF is the ultrafiltration flow rate; V0 is the initial total body water; and CD is the Na dialysate concentration. This modeling involves only one parameter, A, which is the effective sodium dialysance and depends on the dialyzer, the QF, the plasma water flow rate, and the actual Donnan coefficient. Parameter A was evaluated after 1 h of dialysis. Seven routine 4-h dialysis sessions were performed in which the Na concentration of dialysate at equilibrium with the plasma was measured at varying times. The mean (+/- SEM) difference between predicted and measured values was delta C = 0.5 +/- 0.2 mmol/L. These data support the validity of the model that allows the monitoring of Na dialysate concentration to obtain a prescribed Na plasma concentration at the end of a dialysis session.