Search

Objective: This study investigates correlations between different methods for diagnosis of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in peritoneal dialysis patients. Methods: Twenty four patients were included. Patients with amputations, infections, peritonitis, malignancies and PD duration less than three months were excluded. Physical examination findings, laboratory results and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Body composition analysis was performed with multi-frequency bioimpedance analyzer. Dialysis malnutrition score (DMS) was calculated. The correlations of different parameters were searched. Results: Eleven patients were female and 13 patients were male. Mean age was 58.9±12.6 years. Median dialysis duration was 25 (interquartile range: 14) months. Protein percentage was negatively correlated with fat percentage (r=-0.785; p

Hyperkalemia is commonly seen in hemodialysis patients and is a potentially life-threatening condition. Serum potassium concentration greater than 10 mEq/L is defined as extreme hyperkalemia. Emergent treatment of hyperkalemia is made with intravenous calcium, insulin-dextrose solutions, diuretics, gastrointestinal cation-exchange resin and dialysis. We present here a 52-year-old chronic hemodialysis patient with extreme hyperkalemia and cardiac arrhythmia. She was treated with emergent hemodialysis. Her abnormal laboratory findings and electrocardiography recovered. Further examinations suggested insufficient hemodialysis treatment as the possible cause of hyperkalemia.