Abstract
Metabolic acidosis has a number of severe adverse effects on the organism, e.g. deterioration of kidney bone disease through stimulation of bone resorption and inhibition of bone formation, inhibition of vitamin D formation, increased muscle catabolism, reduced albumin production, glucose metabolism disorder, increased insulin resistance, reduced production of thyroid hormones, increased accumulation of β2-microglobulin etc. Non-interventional studies suggest that alkali supplementation may slow down progression of chronic nephropathies.
However, this approach, safe and inexpensive, has not been widely implemented in clinical practice yet. With respect to dialyzed patients, abnormal levels of bicarbonates are associated with increased mortality.
Both metabolic acidosis and alkalosis, rather regularly seen in a considerable number of patients, have a negative effect on patient survival. Alkali substitution from a dialysis solution is the main pillar of metabolic acidosis management in patients on hemo- as well as peritoneal dialysis.
Available technologies allow individualization of the treatment and this should be observed.