Introduction: Setting dry weight (DW) in haemodialysis (HD) patients is still an hard issue. Several clinical, haematochimical and instrumental parameters have been considered. In the last years bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) became the main method to evaluate body composition and water body percentage. However it is still difficult to assess the nutritional status and identify a correct DW in HD patients. Aim: to set DW and nutritional status, combining BIVA with phase angle (PhA) and serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in HD patients. Methods: we evaluated PhA and BNP modifications before (T0), after HD section (T1) and after 60 days (T2), in all patients treated in our HD centre. Results: A total of 50 patients (36 males) with a mean age of 70.1 ± 8.85 years, were recruited. We did not report significant changes in BNP and PhA between T0 and T1, while they were significantly different between T0 and T2. We also reported a significant difference between T0 and T2 in ECW / TBW, while we did not show significant variations in ECM / BMC between T0, T1 and T2 indicating a stability of the nutritional status. PhA, BNP and ECW / TBW, returned to a normal value in patients in which we reached a DW, also considering clinical parameters such as blood pressure and antihypertensive therapy. The weight loss obtained with the evaluation of the BIVA and the BNP was 1.2-5.7 kg, greater than that calculated empirically which stood at around 0.9-4.3 Kg. Conclusion: We suggest to carry out BIVA with PhA combined with BNP to assess an adequate DW and evaluate a correct nutritional status in HD patients.

The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel