Individualized bicarbonate concentrations in the peritoneal dialysis fluid to optimize acid-base status in CAPD patients.

Background: A large percentage of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients being treated with standard lactate-containing solutions tend to have serum bicarbonate concentrations below or above the normal range. The inter-patient variability of serum bicarbonate is a result of many influences and it may be appropriate to adjust the bicarbonate concentration in the peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF) to the current serum bicarbonate in the individual patient.

Methods: Two concentrations of bicarbonate in PDF were compared in this study (34 and 39 mmol/l).