Kt/V
Medical abbreviation · Nephrology & Urology
| Stands for | Dialysis adequacy index (urea clearance times time over volume) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
Kt/V stands for Dialysis adequacy index (urea clearance times time over volume), a nephrology & urology abbreviation.
Dimensionless measure of how much urea a dialysis treatment removes: K is dialyzer urea clearance, t is treatment time, and V is the patient's volume of distribution of urea. For thrice-weekly hemodialysis, a single-pool Kt/V of at least 1.2 per session is the usual minimum.
Example: Monthly labs: spKt/V 1.08, below target; extend treatment time to 4 hours.
Usage notes
Pronounced "K-T-over-V". It was popularized by the Gotch and Sargent analysis of the US National Cooperative Dialysis Study in 1985. Peritoneal dialysis uses a weekly Kt/V target, commonly at least 1.7. Raising blood flow, lengthening sessions or using a larger dialyzer increases the value.
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.