[Rate of protein catabolism as an indicator of protein ingestion in uremic patients on hemodialysis]. / Tasa de catabolismo proteico como indicador de la ingesta proteica en pacientes urémicos en hemodiálisis.

ABSTRACT

Protein catabolic rate (PCR) has been proposed as a indirect index of dietary protein intake, but its sensitivity has been discussed. In a group of 140 chronic uremic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, we evaluated the nutritional status (body mas index BMI, triceps skinfold thickness TST, arm muscle circumference AMC, serum total proteins, albumin and lymphocytes) and its relation with dietary survey and PCR levels. PCR was correlated positively with Kt/V (p 0.0001, r 0.45) and with seric albumin (p 0.01, r 0.22), whereas dietary protein intake by dietary survey (g/Prot/Kg/day) was correlated strongly with anthropometric measurements like BMI, AMC (p 0.0001) and less with Kt/V (p 0.01), but not with serum albumin. PCR was correlated with dietary survey results: g Prot/Kg/day (p 0.04, r 0.18) and Kcal/Kg/day (p 0.03, r0.2). The results suggest that nutritional parameters with slow evolution as anthropometric measurements could be related with usual dietary intake (dietary survey), whereas serum albumin (that vary early with recent changes of dietary intake) could be related better with a biochemical index like PCR, in these way both determinations are complementary.