New reliable methods for the diagnose of protein-energy wasting in hemodialysis patients

Protein-energy wasting (PEW), defined as the body loss of muscle mass and fat, is an important cardiovascular risk factor in dialysis patients. Diagnosing this condition requires the presence of three characteristics: biochemical (low albumine, prealbumine or cholesterol), body mass reduction (body mass index, weight loss or fat loss) and muscle mass reduction (measured by means of creatinine or arm muscle area). This study aimed at demonstrating that the lean tissue index (LTI) calculated by spectroscopic bioimpedance (SBI) is a valid parameter for the diagnostic of protein-energy wasting. Cross-sectional study including 1369 patients with two BCM measurements on a six-month delay, analyzing analytic and spectroscopic bioimpedance parameters. The lean tissue index from the BCM (Body Composition Monitor) quantifies the patient's lean mass and it is matched against traditional parameters (plasma albumine) and non-traditional parameters (IRE and PCR) for protein-energy wasting with no alterations from the patient's hydration level. LTI is an easy to obtain parameter of lean mass which can be followed and monitored in order to diagnose risk situations of our patients as it is the protein- energy wasting.