Individual goals for weight gain between dialysis treatments must be determined by the nephrologists, and may vary based on small or large body size and other considerations, such as residual renal function and how much a patient may still be urinating.
The goal for an average sized hemodialysis patient is to keep fluid weight gain at or below 1 kilogram (kg) (2.2 pounds) each day. This equals a 2 kg (4.4 pounds) fluid weight gain when there are 2 days between treatments and 3 kg (6.6 pounds) fluid weight gain when there are 3 days between treatments.
General Guide
Here is a guideline that can be used to determine how much fluid contributes to weight gain:
2 cups liquid = 16 ounces = 480 ml = 1 pound or 1/2 kilogram fluid weight
4 cups liquid = 32 ounces = 960 ml = 2 pounds or 1 kilogram fluid weight
The general recommendation for fluid for someone on dialysis starts at 32 ounces (~1 liter) per day. If a person still urinates, that may be adjusted or increased depending on what the doctor and care team recommend.
