| [ Summary ] |
Sodium is a major electrolyte in the plasma that determines the tonicity and osmolarity of plasma. Thus, sodium concentration plays a major role in hemodynamics in the body. Because hemodialysis eliminates excessive sodium through the mechanisms of convection and diffusion, dialysis sodium concentration is crucial in determining hemodynamics. Low-sodium dialysis fluid has been extensively investigated for its effects on hemodynamics in patients. Many studies demonstrated that the low-sodium dialysate was associated with the amelioration of hypertension and lower interdialytic weight gain compared with the conventional dialysis fluid due to the reduction of thirst. Moreover, several studies demonstrated that the dialysis fluids with low sodium concentrations were associated with the reduction of inflammation or oxidative stress. On the other hand, the dialysis fluid can be associated with increased incidence of hypotensive episodes or muscle cramps. The characteristics of the population on dialysis are becoming diverse. Low-sodium dialysis fluid has a maximal efficacy and is applied to the patients who are young and robust. In this article, the efficacies or advantages of low-sodium dialysis fluid have been discussed in favor of the dialysis fluid. |