Dialysis and Urine Volume for Kidney Disease Patients

We know that dialysis is an important renal replacement therapy to help play certain functions of the severely damaged kidneys. It is life-saving for end stage kidney disease patients and someone that are in critical illness conditions.

Some dialysis patients also consulted us whether dialysis can be stopped or reduced if their urine output increases. First we have to see that it is totally possible that the frequency of dialysis can be reduced and the duration of each dialysis can be shortened, but the premise is that kidney functions are improved.

And we also need to know that increased urine output does not definitely mean kidney function is improved. If the patients can not remove metabolic wastes and toxins from their body with urination, dialysis can not be reduced without more effective treatment. The functions of dialysis is not only to help remove excess fluid from the body. What is more important, dialysis can help remove wasteful and harmful substances, rectify the balances of electrolytes and minerals in the body by discharging excessive substances and supplying some necessary elements to the patient’s blood. If the patient’s daily urine output is increased, but there is not too much wasteful or toxic substances in the patient’s urine or even the urine is just like plain water, it does not mean any improvement of the patient’s kidney functions.

And in fact, dialysis patients often experience reduced urine output than a person normally produced. This is because when the blood is filtered during the dialysis treatment, excess fluid will be removed, therefore urine output that is produced by the kidneys will be reduced.

There are many factors that can affect the urine output for dialysis patients and therefore urine volume should not be seen as the only indicator to measure kidney functions or determine any adjustment of dialysis.

Besides dialysis to help purify the bloodstream and create a better internal environment, patients should also seek more effective treatment to help repair renal damages and improve renal functions. During the treatment, regular kidney function tests should be taken to have close monitoring of the patient’s illness conditions and illness progression. If kidney functions can be improved and patients have overall improvements of their illness conditions, the frequency of dialysis can be gradually reduced or for some patients it is even possible to get rid of dialysis.