The Effect of Citrate Dialysate on Clot Formation and Anemia in Hemodialysis Patients

This is the prospective comparison study. This study enrolled chronic hemodialysis patients age more than 18 who undergo hemodialysis 3 times per week for at least 3 months. All the patients should have serum ferritin 200-1000 ng/L and TSAT of 15-50%. The investigators exclude patients with age more than 70 years, comorbidities influencing citrate metabolism (hepatic failure,liver transplantation,cancer with bone metastasis), patients using heparin free protocol, hyperkalemia worsened by hypocalcemia, contraindication to heparin, treatment with cinacalcet or oral anticoagulant, patients using central venous catheter with blood flow less than 300 ml/min, and patients using low molecular weight heparin.

The study will be conducted in three phases over a period of 4 months. After run-in period for 2 weeks using acetate dialysate, the heparin dose will be titrated to lowest effective dose. During the first phase, citrate was replaced for acetate and heparin will be reduced to 50%. The second and third phase will be performed by reducing heparin doses to 25 % and heparin free consecutively. Each phase lasts for 4 weeks. Washout period for 2 weeks will be alternated after each phase.

Data collection: The investigators measure blood chemistries such as CBC, BUN creatinine electrolytes calcium phosphorus and KT/V at the beginning and at the end of each session. Ionized calcium will be monitored pre and post dialysis in each session. In addition, the investigators record clot score and erythropoietin dosage in each session and each phase.