NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PATIENTS ON MAINTENANCE HEMODIALYSIS WITH BALKAN (ENDEMIC) NEPHROPATHY

The aim of this study was to ascertain the nutritional status of patients with Balkan (Endemic) Nephropathy (BEN) on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). The specimen of examines included 14 patients with BEN and 178 patients with another diagnosis on hemodialysis in Institute of Nephrology and Hemodialysis, Clinical Center Nis in 2002. Body mass index (BMI) of male patients with BEN was 25.7±5.0 kg/m2; normal body weight was present in 66.7% of cases and obese in 33.3% of cases. BMI of female patients with BEN was 24.5±4.3 kg/m2; malnutrition was present in 12.5% of cases, normal body weight in 50.0% and obese in 37.5% of cases. Anthropometric indexes (BMI, lean body mass, body height, relative body weight, biceps, triceps, sub-scapular and iliac skinfold thickness, as well as, percent of body fat, mid-arm circumference and mid-arm muscle circumference) of another HD patients was slight lower then HD patients with BEN, but differences was not statistically significant.