What is a condition that would falsely increase the Kt/V value?

Kt/V is a measure used to assess the adequacy of dialysis treatment, reflecting the amount of urea cleared during a dialysis session. The value is affected by multiple factors, including blood flow rate, dialysis duration, and the efficiency of the dialyzer.

When the blood flow rate (BFR) is not reduced when necessary, this action can contribute to a falsely increased Kt/V calculation. A high blood flow rate can improve urea clearance due to better mass transfer during dialysis; however, the accuracy of the Kt/V measurement relies on the appropriate and calculated use of parameters. If BFR is excessively high during a treatment where it shouldn’t be, it might skew the results, making it appear that the treatment was more effective than it truly was.

In contrast, factors such as waiting too long to draw blood, using a larger dialyzer, or clamping the arterial line affect Kt/V in different ways but are more about either procedural inefficiencies or parameters that do not necessarily contribute to an increase in the clearance calculation itself.