Changes in total sodium intake do not lead to proportionate changes in total sodium removal in CAPD patients.

BACKGROUND

Dietary salt and fluid restriction is important in controlling fluid balance in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). However, it is often difficult to monitor patients' dietary total sodium intake (TSI). Usually, total sodium removal (TSR), the sum of urinary sodium removal (USR) and dialysate sodium removal (DSR), is suggested to represent TSI. In the present study, we investigated the reliability of using TSR as a surrogate to TSI in CAPD patients.

METHODS

40 clinically stable CAPD patients were closely followed for 3 months. Their TSI, USR, DSR, and fluid status were measured twice: at baseline and at the end of this study respectively. Fluid status was evaluated by bioimpedance analysis. Patients with increased sodium intake (group ISI) or decreased sodium intake (group DSI) (both >0.5 g/day or >21.74 mmol/day elemental sodium) were included in this study.

RESULTS

There were 15 patients in group ISI and 9 patients in group DSI. During the follow-up, although TSI increased in group ISI and decreased in group DSI (p < 0.05), there were no significant changes in USR, DSR, or TSR in either group. No relationship was found between TSI and TSR. Changes in weight, blood pressure, urine volume, ultra-filtration, and small solute removal (Kt/V and creatinine clearance) were not statistically significant between the two groups. Fluid status deteriorated in group ISI and improved in group DSI (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that changes in total sodium intake do not lead to proportionate changes in total sodium removal in CAPD patients. Therefore, TSR (the sum of USR and DSR) should be used cautiously to monitor TSI in this patient population.