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

Sudden 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.Patients with pre-dialysis K >5.5 mEq/L were excluded. ECG and K measurements were obtained before and after the first session of the...