Severity of Hypoalbuminemia Predicts Response to Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition in Hemodialysis Patients

Background Intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) is used infrequently to correct hypoalbuminemia in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. We hypothesized that the severity of baseline hypoalbuminemia correlates with the success rate of IDPN therapy in MHD patients. Methods In a prospective and contemporary cohort of 196 hypoalbuminemic MHD patients who received IDPN through Pentec Health (Boothwyn, PA), predictors of IDPN response were examined using multivariate logistic regression. Results Of 196 hypoalbuminemic MHD patients, 134 had severe hypoalbuminemia, defined as a baseline serum albumin level of less than 3.0 g/dL. The average period of IDPN therapy was 5.8 ± 2.4 months, S.D. The baseline level of serum albumin was lower in MHD patients who responded to IDPN (2.68 ± 0.47 g/dL, S.D.). A multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted the associations for age, gender, diabetes, and IDPN time. The presence of severe hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin,