Effects of dialysate potassium concentration of 3.0mEq/l with sodium zirconium cyclosilicate on dialysis-free days versus dialysate potassium concentration of 2.0mEq/l alone on rates of cardiac arrhythmias in hemodialysis patients with hyperkalemia

The optimal approach towards managing serum potassium and hemodialysate potassium concentrations is uncertain. To study this, adults receiving hemodialysis for three months or more with hyperkalemia (pre-dialysis serum potassium (sK+) 5.1–6.5 mEq/l) had cardiac monitors implanted and were randomized to either eight weeks of 2.0 potassium/2.5 calcium mEq/l dialysate without sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) (2.0 potassium/noSZC) or 3.0 potassium/2.5 calcium mEq/l dialysate combined with SZC (3.0 potassium/SZC) on non-dialysis days to maintain pre-dialysis sK+ 4.0–5.5 mEq/l, followed by treatment crossover for another eight weeks.