Monitoring dialysis efficacy by comparing delivered and predicted Kt/V

INTRODUCTION: In Europe, especially in Germany, little is currently known about the relationship between delivered and predicted haemodialysis doses for patients on maintenance haemodialysis. We compared delivered and predicted Kt/V in patients of an outpatient dialysis centre in Berlin by calculating the ratio of delivered and predicted Kt/V, resulting in the efficacy quotient, QE. Moreover, we studied the influence of technical and anthropometric parameters on both delivered Kt/V and QE under routine clinical conditions. METHODS: Blood samples were taken after the long interval in a thrice-weekly regimen before and 10 min after ultrafiltration and 100 ml/min slow-pump method. Delivered Kt/V was computed using the Daugirdas III formula. Predicted Kt/V was estimated from the dialysis filter urea clearance given by the manufacturer, treatment time and the total body water (V) computed by the Watson formula and was corrected for real blood flow. As and when appropriate, bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to make comparisons. RESULTS: The mean quotient (QE) between delivered and predicted Kt/V was 1.02+/-0.20. Mean delivered Kt/V in 377 treatments of 128 patients was 1.28+/-0.27. Delivered Kt/V and QE were positively associated (P