Comparing lung ultrasound with bioimpedance spectroscopy for evaluating hydration in peritoneal dialysis patients

• TITLE: Comparing lung ultrasound with bioimpedance spectroscopy for evaluating hydration in peritoneal dialysis patients
• AUTHOR: Paudel K, Kausik T, Visser A, Ramballi C, Fan SL
• REFERENCE: Nephrology (Carlton). 2015 Jan;20(1):1-5. doi: 10.1111/nep.12342
• YEAR: 2015

BACKGROUND: Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), ultrasound lung comets (ULC) and serum biomarkers (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, NT-proBNP) have all been used to assist clinicians to determine hydration status in dialysis patients.

METHODS: We performed simultaneous BIS, ULC and NT-proBNP measurements in 27 peritoneal dialysis patients to determine the concordance of the three methods.

RESULTS: Patients with evidence of increasing lung congestion (as determined by ultrasound) were more likely to be diabetic, have systolic hypertension and have higher NT-proBNP (r = 0.65, P < 0.0005). Although there was a trend for patients with high ULC to be overhydrated as determined by BIS, this did not reach statistical significance. Moreover, the correlation between BIS and NT-proBNP (though statistically significant at r = 0.47, P < 0.02) appeared to be weaker.

CONCLUSION: BIS and ULC may be complementary, providing different information, whereas BIS may be more specific to hydration. ULC and NT-proBNP may indicate left ventricular failure coexisting with overhydration.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25231593