Metabolic acidosis is frequent in chronic hemodialysis patients and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Two commonly used strategies to correct acidosis are oral sodium bicarbonate supplementation and increasing the bicarbonate concentration of the dialysate, but their comparative effectiveness and tolerance in routine care remain uncertain. This pilot, prospective, randomized, open-label, single-center trial will compare oral sodium bicarbonate versus higher dialysate bicarbonate in chronic hemodialysis patients with metabolic acidosis, using predialysis plasma bicarbonate concentrations, so-called "reserves alcalines" or "alkaline reserves" in local laboratory reports, as a pragmatic marker of acid-base status.
Approximately 30 acidotic patients (serum bicarbonate \< 22 mmol/L) will be randomized 1:1 to receive either oral sodium bicarbonate or an increase in dialysate bicarbonate for 6 weeks. An additional non-acidotic observational group will provide descriptive reference data. The primary outcome is the change in predialysis serum bicarbonate from baseline (Day 0) to Day 42 between the two randomized arms. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of patients reaching target serum bicarbonate levels, the weekly kinetics of correction, dialysis adequacy (Kt/V and online clearance monitoring), intradialytic tolerance (blood pressure, cramps, hypotension, symptoms), sodium-related safety (natremia, interdialytic weight gain), and the effects of acidosis correction on nutritional and bone-mineral metabolism, including changes in serum albumin, calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Feasibility indicators such as recruitment, retention, adherence to treatment and dialysate adjustment, and data completeness will also be described to inform the design of a larger definitive trial.
Age ≥ 18 years.
Chronic hemodialysis for at least 3 months.
Stable hemodialysis prescription: 3 times a week, high-flux dialyzers, no major change in dialysis prescription in the previous weeks.
Predialysis low "alkaline reserves" (serum bicarbonate concentration) according to the operational threshold used in the unit (e.g., "alkaline reserves" < 22 mmol/L), consistent with KDIGO 2017 definition of metabolic acidosis.
Recent hemodynamic instability (e.g., repeated intradialytic hypotension or unstable blood pressure in the previous weeks).
Recent hospitalization for an acute condition.
Acute infection or major intercurrent acute event at the time of screening.
Major change in dialysis prescription in the 2 weeks prior to inclusion (e.g., change in dialysis schedule, duration, or dialysate composition outside the study protocol).
Parallel
Oral sodium bicarbonate
Dietary supplementOral sodium bicarbonate given as Bicardis 500 mg capsules, used as a dietary supplement in Tunisia, administered according to a standardized algorithm based on predialysis serum bicarbonate concentrations, so-called "reserves alcalines" in local laboratory reports. At baseline, an initial dose is prescribed according to the severity of metabolic acidosis: 1 capsule/day if 20-21.9, 2 capsules/day if 18-19.9, 3 capsules/day if 16-17.9, 4 capsules/day if \<16 mmol/L. At each weekly visit, the same dose is maintained if reserves alcalines remain below the target range and the weekly increase is ≤ 3 mmol/L; the dose is reduced to the previous lower level if the weekly increase is \> 3 mmol/L or if predialysis bicarbonate enters the predefined target range (22-24 mmol/L); oral bicarbonate is reduced or stopped if predialysis bicarbonate exceeds the upper limit of the target range (\> 24 mmol/L) to avoid alkalosis, and the dose is increased if reserves alcalines do not improve or decrease.
Increased Dialysate Bicarbonate
Other interventionAdjustment of the dialysate bicarbonate concentration will be performed according to a standardized titration strategy based on predialysis serum bicarbonate concentrations ("reserves alcalines" in local laboratory reports). At baseline, an initial increase in dialysate bicarbonate is prescribed according to the severity of metabolic acidosis: +1 mmol/L if serum bicarbonate is 20-21.9 mmol/L, +2 mmol/L if 18-19.9 mmol/L, +3 mmol/L if 16-17.9 mmol/L, and a larger or individualized increase if \< 16 mmol/L. At each weekly visit, dialysate bicarbonate is then adjusted as follows: it is maintained if reserves alcalines remain below the target range and the weekly increase is ≤ 3 mmol/L; it is reduced to the previous lower level if the weekly increase is \> 3 mmol/L or if predialysis bicarbonate enters the predefined target range (22-24 mmol/L); and it is reduced or returned to the standard level if predialysis bicarbonate exceeds the upper limit of the target range (\> 24 mmol/L).
Change in Predialysis Serum Bicarbonate ("Reserves Alcalines") Between Day 0 and Day 42
Predialysis serum (or plasma) bicarbonate concentrations, so-called "reserves alcalines" or "alkaline reserves" in local laboratory reports, will be measured at baseline (Day 0) and after 6 weeks (Day 42) in chronic hemodialysis patients with metabolic acidosis. The primary outcome is the change in predialysis serum bicarbonate between Day 0 and Day 42 (Δ serum bicarbonate), comparing the oral sodium bicarbonate arm and the higher dialysate bicarbonate arm. Serum bicarbonate will be expressed in mmol/L, and metabolic acidosis at inclusion is defined as predialysis serum bicarbonate \< 22 mmol/L.
Proportion of Patients Achieving Target Serum Bicarbonate at Day 42
Proportion of randomized acidotic hemodialysis patients in each active arm (oral sodium bicarbonate vs higher dialysate bicarbonate) who achieve a predialysis serum (or plasma) bicarbonate level within the predefined target range at Day 42. Serum bicarbonate corresponds to "reserves alcalines" or "alkaline reserves" in local laboratory reports and will be expressed in mmol/L. Proportion will be expressed as a percentage of each active arm (%).
Weekly Kinetics of Predialysis Serum Bicarbonate
Trajectory of predialysis serum (or plasma) bicarbonate ("reserves alcalines" / "alkaline reserves") over the 6-week study period, measured at baseline (Day 0) and weekly at Days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42, comparing the oral sodium bicarbonate and higher dialysate bicarbonate arms. Results will be expressed as absolute values (mmol/L) and changes from baseline at each time point.
Intradialytic hypotension episodes
Number of intradialytic hypotension episodes per patient over 6 weeks in each treatment arm. Intradialytic hypotension is defined as: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) \< 90 mmHg or a decrease in SBP ≥ 20 mmHg compared with the pre-dialysis value, accompanied by at least one intolerance symptom (such as cramps, nausea, dizziness, or other intradialytic complaints).
Dialysis Adequacy
Dialysis adequacy assessed by single-pool Kt/V and online clearance monitoring (OCM), measured weekly or according to local routine, in the oral sodium bicarbonate and higher dialysate bicarbonate arms. The outcome will describe the stability of Kt/V and OCM over the 6-week period and compare any changes between arms.
Feasibility of the Pilot Trial
Feasibility of the study procedures will be assessed descriptively to inform the design of a future definitive randomized trial. Feasibility outcomes include: (1) recruitment rate, defined as the proportion of eligible chronic hemodialysis patients with metabolic acidosis who consent and are enrolled; (2) retention rate, defined as the proportion of randomized participants who complete the Day 42 visit with primary outcome assessment; (3) adherence to oral sodium bicarbonate in the experimental arm, defined as the proportion of prescribed doses actually taken over 6 weeks; (4) adherence to the dialysate bicarbonate adjustment algorithm in the active comparator arm, defined as the proportion of dialysis sessions performed with a dialysate bicarbonate level consistent with the predefined weekly serum bicarbonate ("reserves alcalines"); and (5) data completeness, defined as the proportion of expected measurements available for key variables.
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