Malnutrition and persistence of a chronic inflammation are among the most important factors affecting morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRD) treated with dialysis. They result from both metabolic dysfunction related to the renal disease progress and nutrition management methods, such as low protein diet (0.3-0.4 g/kg/24 hours), used before the dialytic treatment. At present, at least two types of malnutrition can be distinguished in patients with chronic renal failure.

The first type is related to low protein and energy intake. The second is associated with chronic inflammation and leads to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (MIA syndrome).

Therefore, a wide spectrum of methods for the assessment of nutritional status and inflammation factors in ESRD patients and monitoring of renal substitution treatment adequacy with the use of e.g. urea kinetic modelling, play a central role in everyday nephrological and internal medicine practice.