One of the most common complications of diabetes is End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). People whose kidneys no longer function properly need to undergo hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis for as long as they live, or until they receive a kidney transplant. 89 % of the patients use hemodialysis where the blood is passed through a special filter (artificial kidney) outside the body. 11% of the patients are treated by peritoneal dialysis where the lining of the abdomen is acting as a natural filter.
Dialysis fluid (dialysate) consists of purified water in which various substances are dissolved. Besides glucose, the substances in the dialysate are all electrolytes. Their concentration closely resembles the concentration of the electrolytes occurring naturally in the blood. Dialysate regulates the electrolyte and acid-base balance of the dialysis patient and removes waste metabolic products from the body.
Kemira's Acetates Regulating Dialysate's pH Level
Kemira’s acetates, such as sodium acetate, sodium di-acetate, magnesium acetate and potassium acetate play an important role as a buffer regulating the pH level of the dialysis solution. Sodium acetate also enables the liver to produce sodium bicarbonate, which is needed in order to prevent the blood from acidifying.
Sodium acetate is mostly used in solutions. Sodium diacetate is used in dry concentrates and gives better results in the dialysate due to the higher acidity / lower pH. It also better prevents precipitation of calcium carbonate on the artificial kidney.
Sodium diacetate offers the benefit to the clinics to locally dissolve the dry mix instead of having to store a liquid product. The product is also used in other applications where it is advantageous to use a solid source of free acetic acid, e.g. for safer handling and reduced transportation costs.
Kemira’s pharmaceutical grade products are subject to rigid quality control to ensure very high purity, fulfilling all the required specifications of various pharmacopoeias.