A simple modification of dialysate potassium: its impact on plasma potassium concentrations and the electrocardiogram

BackgroundSudden death is frequent in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Both hyperkalaemia and change of plasma potassium (K) concentrations induced by HD could explain this. The impact of increasing dialysate K by 1 mEq/L on plasma K concentrations and electrocardiogram (ECG) results before and after HD sessions was studied.MethodsPatients with pre-dialysis K >5.5 mEq/L were excluded. ECG and K measurements were obtained before and after the first session of the week for 2 weeks. Then, K in the dialysate was increased (from 1 or 3 to 2 or 4 mEq/L, respectively). Blood and ECG measurements were repeated after 2 weeks of this change.ResultsTwenty-seven prevalent HD patients were included. As expected, a significant decrease in K concentrations was observed after the dialysis session, but this decrease was significantly lower after the switch to an increased dialysate K. The pre-dialysis K concentrations were not different after changing, but post-dialysis K concentrations were higher after switching (P ConclusionsA simple increase of 1 mEq/L of K in the dialysate is associated with a lower risk of hypokalaemia and a lower QT dispersion after the dialysis session. Further study is needed to determine if such a strategy is associated with a lower risk of sudden death.