Atellica solution analyzer

TCO₂ was measured by an Atellica Solution analyzer (Siemens Healthineers, Erlagen, Germany). TCO₂ in serum exists in two major chemical forms: dissolved CO₂ and bicarbonate anion. In the system, the enzymatic method converts all CO₂ to HCO to measure TCO₂. The targeted pre-dialysis TCO₂ value was set between 19 and 25 mEq/L. The baseline TCO₂ level was the mean TCO₂ obtained during the past 3 months before study initiation and was compared with the monthly measured TCO₂ levels during follow-up.
In addition, we analysed the effect of the tailored bicarbonate dialysate prescription approach on albumin, plasma potassium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, magnesium and calcium. The mean of the past 3 months before the study initiation pre- and post-dialysis measurements of plasma potassium, calcium and pre-dialysis intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels was established as the baseline, which was then compared with the monthly measurements of the same parameters collected during the 6-month follow-up period. Throughout the follow-up, the patients received the standard-of-care treatment with calcimimetics, phosphate binders (including calcium- and non-calcium-based binders), and active vitamin D analogues, whose doses were titrated according to the analytical parameters and the criteria of the treating physician.

After sampling in lithium heparin SARSTEDT Monovette^® 4.7 mL (orange cap), C-reactive protein (normal value is < 0.6 mg/dL) was measured in human serum and plasma using a standard immunoturbidometric assay on the Atellica^® Solution analyzer (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Erlangen, Germany).
The blood leukocyte count (normal range 3600−10,500/µL) was determined after removal in EDTA Monovette^® 2.7 mL after cluster analysis in the basophil channel on ADVIA^® 2120i hematology system with autoslide (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Erlangen, Germany).
The inflammation values of the blood laboratory were recorded as a mean and median value after taking into account all exacerbations for each study participant.