Evaluation of Acid-base Balance and pO 2 with Acetate Dialysis in Non-uremic Patients

Abstract

The aim of our work was to evaluate the immediate effects of acetate-dialysis in patients with normal renal and respiratory function. For this purpose pH, pO₂, pCO₂ and HCO₃⁻ were monitored in arterial blood before dialysis, after 60, 120, 180 mns and at the end of each treatment in two groups of patients on chronic hemodialysis, a first group of schizophrenic patients and a second group of uremic patients.

In the first group of patients the predialytic values were in the normal range. After hemodialysis HCO_3⁻ and pCO₂ significantly decreased, both these changes were associated with a stable pH.

The pO₂ significantly decreased after 60 mns of dialysis. At the end of dialysis the pO₂ increased without significant variation compared to predialytic values.

In conclusion in non-uremic hemodialysis patients metabolic acidosis due to the loss of bicarbonate through the membrane is compensated by respiratory alkalosis. This respiratory alkalosis is not due to hypoventilation secondary to respiratory centre inhibition, but is mainly due to the pCO₂ loss through the dialysis membranes.