Evaluation of sodium deposition in soft tissues of patients with kidney disease and its association with patient symptomatology

Project lead: Dr. Chris McIntyre

One key function of the kidney is to balance the level of sodium in our bodies by getting rid of it through urine. There have been studies that show when kidney function is impaired, the extra sodium may end up on skin, muscle or bones, causing inflammation. There is a potential link between sodium and inflammation that may explain the symptoms that dialysis patients experience such as itch, low energy and restless legs. This study will try to examine sodium deposition in the skin, muscle and bones of patients with different kidney function and different dialysis modalities and its association with symptoms.