Patent Publication Number: US-2021187178-A1

Title: Extracellular fluid volume calculator and method for calculating extracellular fluid volume

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. National Stage Entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2019/032665, filed Aug. 21, 2019, which application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(b) and 37 CFR 1.55 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-156641, filed Aug. 23, 2018, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The technique disclosed herein relates to calculation of extracellular fluid volume. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Since kidneys malfunction in hemodialysis patients, all of the water they take in accumulates in their bodies. When the accumulated water in the bodies is removed by a hemodialysis procedure, the water is removed until a water volume in extracellular compartment (which may be referred to as an extracellular fluid volume, hereinbelow) becomes theoretically equal to an extracellular fluid volume of persons with normally functioning kidneys. In fact, however, a method for measuring an extracellular fluid volume has not been established. Thus, at present, a body weight of a patient whose extracellular fluid volume is estimated to be equal to that of a person with normally functioning kidneys is defined as a dry weight, and water in the body is removed until the patient&#39;s body weight becomes equal to the dry weight (Luik A, et al: Blood pressure control and fluid state in patients on long treatment time dialysis. J Am Soc Nephrol 5: 521, 1994). The dr weight is determined through a trial and error process based on clinical symptoms such as whether edema is observed or not, blood pressure level, whether a drop in blood pressure is observed during hemodialysis or not, whether the patient feels fatigued after hemodialysis or not, whether a muscle cramp is observed in a time window from a latter part of hemodialysis to post-hemodialysis or not, and the like (Jaeger J Q and Mehta R L: Assessment of Dry Weight in Hemodialysis: An Overview. J Am Soc Nephrol 10: 392-403, 1999). In fact, however, evaluation results based on such clinical symptoms may be incorrect (Charra B, et al: Clinical assessment of dry weight. Nephrol Dial Transplant 11(Suppl 2): 16-19, 1996). Further, since body fat amount and/or muscle mass change(s) as some time elapses, the determined dry weight may not be used for a long time (Jaeger J Q and Mehta R L: Assessment of Dry Weight in Hemodialysis: An Overview. J Am Soc Nephrol 10: 392-403, 1999). 
     At present, one of methods for assessing whether a patient&#39;s post-hemodialysis weight is equal to his/her dry weight is to check if edema occurs or not. It is considered that edema occurs when an extracellular fluid volume of a patient is greater by 3 to 5 kg than that of a person with normally functioning kidneys (Gunal A I: How to determine ‘dry weight’? Kidney Int 3: 377-379, 2013). This means that even if the extracellular fluid volume of patient at the set dry weight is greater than that of the person with normally functioning kidneys, it is considered that edema is not occurring if the difference is equal to or less than 3 to 5 kg. Thus, determining whether the dry weight is too high or not based on the presence/absence of edema may result in that the dry weight is set higher than it should be. When water is excessively accumulated in the body, volume of blood, which is a part of extracellular fluid, also increases and the heart is thereby enlarged. In view of this, another method for assessing whether the dry weight is appropriate or not is to make an assessment based on the size of a heart relative to the rib cage (cardiothoracic ratio) in a chest X-ray radiograph. When a cardiothoracic ratio in a chest X-ray radiograph taken after hemodialysis is approximately 50%, the extracellular fluid volume is determined as appropriate (Gunal A I: How to determine ‘dry weight’? Kidney Int 3: 377-379, 2013). Further, it is known that atrial natriuretic peptide concentration (which will be referred to as hANP concentration, hereinbelow) is secreted in large quantity when the heart is strained. In view of this, an hANP concentration in post-hemodialysis blood is measured, and when it is an appropriate concentration (40 to 60 pg/mL), the dry weight is determined as appropriate (Eriko ISHII, et al.: The target range of plasma ANP level for dry weight adjustment in HD patients, Journal of Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy, 37:1417-1422, 2004). However, in patients with cardiac failure and/or cardiac valvular disease, the hANP concentration and/or the cardiothoracic ratio increase(s) even though the extracellular fluid volume is appropriate (Brandt R R et al: Atrial natriuretic peptide in heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 22 (4 Suppl A): 86A-92A, 1993). Hem, hemodialysis patients have a high probability of getting cardiac failure and/or cardiac valvular disease. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In a hemodialysis patient, water has excessively accumulated in extracellular compartment before hemodialysis. Thus, the water is removed during hemodialysis until the extracellular fluid volume of the patient becomes equal to that of a person with normally functioning kidneys. That is, the water is removed during hemodialysis until the patient&#39;s weight becomes his/her dry weight. 
     The extracellular fluid volume, based on which the dry weight is determined, is estimated based on clinical symptoms. However, evaluation results based on the clinical symptoms may often be incorrect. Thus, even though the water is removed during hemodialysis until the patient&#39;s weight becomes equal to the dry weight, the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume may not always be equal to the extracellular fluid volume of a person with normally functioning kidneys, actually. 
     Further, fat amount and/or muscle mass of a hemodialysis patient change depending on his/her nutritional condition. The patient&#39;s extracellular fluid volume changes as the fat amount and/or muscle mass change. Thus, the dry weight needs to be updated regularly. However, conventional methods for determining dry weight have accuracy issues and are not suitable for frequently resetting dry weight to keep the extracellular fluid volume at appropriate level. For example, whether edema is present or not is determined based on the skin resilience level, however, for the elderly who are usually inferior in skin resilience, it is hard to determine whether edema is present or not based on the skin resilience level. That is, it is hard to assess the extracellular fluid volume of the elderly based on whether edema is present or not. Further, since edema does not occur unless the extracellular fluid volume is greater by at least 3 to 5 kg than the appropriate extracellular fluid volume (Gunal A I: How to determine ‘dry weight’?Kidney Int 3: 377-379, 2013), the method based on whether edema is observed or not can detect abnormality in the extracellular fluid volume only when the extracellular fluid volume is significantly increased. Furthermore, the assessment may differ depending on skills of assessors (e.g., doctors), thus it cannot be said that whether the extracellular fluid volume is deficient or excessive is correctly determined based on clinical symptoms. Another method for assessing an extracellular fluid volume based on a chest X-ray radiograph requires time and labor to take a chest X-ray radiograph and also requires a facility for taking X-ray radiographs. Further, a hemodialysis patient with cardiac depression, that is, a hemodialysis patient with cardiac failure and/or cardiac valvular disease, may have a large cardiothoracic ratio even though the dry weight is appropriate, that is, even though the extracellular fluid volume is appropriate. In other words, the cardiothoracic ratio is not reliable when the patient has cardiac failure and/or cardiac valvular disease. Another method for assessing an extracellular fluid volume from an hANP concentration costs significantly for measuring an hANP concentration and is not suitable to be frequently carried out. Further, a hemodialysis patient with cardiac depression, that is, a hemodialysis patient with cardiac failure and/or cardiac valvular disease, may have a high hANP concentration even though the extracellular fluid volume is appropriate. Thus, for the hemodialysis patient with a cardiac disease, whether his/her extracellular fluid volume is appropriate or not cannot be accurately determined based on chest X-ray radiograph or hANP concentration. 
     The disclosure herein discloses a technique that assesses an extracellular fluid volume of a hemodialysis patient accurately and easily. 
     Solution to Technical Problem 
     An extracellular fluid volume calculator disclosed herein may comprise: an acquirement unit configured to acquire a membrane area of a dialyzer used for hemodialysis; and a processor configured to calculate a post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume based on a difference between a pre-hemodialysis amount of uric acid and a post-hemodialysis amount of uric acid. The processor may be configured to: calculate a removal amount of uric acid removed by hemodialysis based on a dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid: and calculate the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid based on the membrane area of the dialyzer acquired by the acquirement unit. 
     The above-described extracellular fluid volume calculator calculates the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume based on the difference between the pre-hemodialysis amount of uric acid and the post-hemodialysis amount of uric acid in extracellular compartment. That is, the extracellular fluid volume calculator can calculate the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume based on a theory that the removal amount of uric acid removed by hemodialysis is equal to the difference between the pre-hemodialysis amount of uric acid in the extracellular compartment and the post-hemodialysis amount of uric acid in the extracellular compartment. It is known that the removal amount of uric acid can be calculated from a dialyzer clearance for uric acid during hemodialysis and a plasma uric acid concentration. The dialyzer clearance for uric acid during hemodialysis can be calculated, using a publicly known formula, from a plasma flow rate and a dialysate flow rate passing through the dialyzer and a dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid. The dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid can be calculated, using a publicly known formula, from a dialyzer clearance for uric acid that is measured with a specific plasma flow rate and a specific dialysate flow rate in an ex-vivo experiment using bovine blood. Usually, for this kind of experiment, the plasma flow rate passing through the dialyzer is set at 136 mL/min and the dialysate flow rate passing through the dialyzer is set at 500 mL/min. However, it is not practical to carry out, for all dialyzers to be used for hemodialysis, such ex-vivo experiments to calculate their overall mass transfer-area coefficients for uric acid. As a result of dedicated study of the inventors, it has been revealed that the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid is correlated with the membrane area of the dialyzer. Thus, the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid can be calculated from the membrane area of the dialyzer. This means that the dialyzer clearance for uric acid can be calculated from the membrane area of the dialyzer. Therefore, the removal amount of uric acid can be easily calculated by using the membrane area of the dialyzer, thereby significantly facilitating calculation of the extracellular fluid volume. 
     A method for calculating an extracellular fluid volume disclosed herein may comprise: an acquirement step of acquiring a membrane area of a dialyzer used for hemodialysis; and a calculation step of calculating a post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume based on a difference between a pre-hemodialysis amount of uric acid and a post-hemodialysis amount of uric acid. The calculation step may comprise: a first calculation step of calculating a dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid based on the membrane area of the dialyzer acquired in the acquirement step; and a second calculation step of calculating a removal amount of uric acid removed by hemodialysis based on the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid calculated in the first calculation step. 
     According to the above-described method for calculating the extracellular fluid volume, in the calculation step of calculating the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume based on the difference between the pre-hemodialysis amount of uric acid and the post-hemodialysis amount of uric acid, the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid is calculated based on the membrane area of the dialyzer, and the removal amount of uric acid is calculated based on the calculated dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid. Thus, this method can bring the same effects as those of the above-described extracellular fluid volume calculator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a system configuration of an extracellular fluid volume calculator according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  schematically shows substances in extracellular and intracellular compartments. 
         FIG. 3  shows a relationship between membrane areas of dialyzers and the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficients for uric acid. 
         FIG. 4  shows measured removal amounts of uric acid actually removed by hemodialysis and removal amounts of uric acid calculated from membrane areas of dialyzers. 
         FIG. 5  shows a flowchart for one example of process a processor follows to calculate an extracellular fluid volume. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Some of the features characteristic to below-described embodiments will herein be listed. It should be noted that the respective technical elements are independent of one another, and are useful solely or in combinations. The combinations thereof are not limited to those described in the claims as originally filed. 
     (Feature 1) In the extracellular fluid volume calculator disclosed herein, the acquirement unit may be configured to acquire a plasma flow rate passing through the dialyzer and a dialysate flow rate passing through the dialyzer. The processor may be configured to: calculate the removal amount of uric acid based on a dialyzer clearance for uric acid; and calculate the dialyzer clearance for uric acid based on the plasma flow rate and the dialysate flow rate acquired by the acquirement unit and the calculated dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid. This configuration enables the elements used for calculation of the removal amount of uric acid to be acquired with few additional, special procedure. Thus, the extracellular fluid volume calculator facilitates the calculation of the removal amount of uric acid, thereby facilitating the calculation of the extracellular fluid volume. 
     EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinbelow, an extracellular fluid volume calculator  10  according to an embodiment will be described, the extracellular fluid volume calculator  10  is configured to calculate an extracellular fluid volume in the body of a hemodialysis patient. It is known that even when a water volume in the hemodialysis patient&#39;s body becomes excessive (i.e., the patient becomes overhydrated) or becomes insufficient (i.e., the patient becomes underhydrated), a water volume in an intracellular compartment  40  hardly changes and only a water volume in an extracellular compartment  50  changes. Thus, it is an extracellular fluid volume that is needed to be adjusted by water removal through hemodialysis. In order to assess whether a post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume of the hemodialysis patient is appropriate or not, the extracellular fluid volume calculator  10  according to the present embodiment is configured to calculate the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume of the hemodialysis patient. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the extracellular fluid volume calculator  10  includes a processor  12  and an interface  30 . The processor  12  may be configured of a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc., for example. The processor  12  functions as a calculation unit  20  shown in  FIG. 1  by the computer executing a program. A process executed by the calculation unit  20  will be described later in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the processor  12  includes a patient&#39;s information storage unit  14 , a hemodialysis information storage unit  16 , and a calculation method storage unit  18 . The patient&#39;s information storage unit  14  is configured to store various kinds of information about the hemodialysis patient. The patient&#39;s information storage unit  14  stores information about the hemodialysis patient inputted through the interface  30  and information about the hemodialysis patient calculated by the calculation unit  20 . The information about the hemodialysis patient inputted through the interface  30  includes pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentrations, and pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis hematocrit values of the hemodialysis patient, for example. The information about the hemodialysis patient calculated by the calculation unit  20  includes a post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume calculated based on the information inputted through the interface  30 , for example. 
     The hemodialysis information storage unit  16  is configured to store various types of information about hemodialysis. The hemodialysis information storage unit  16  stores information about hemodialysis inputted through the interface  30  and information about hemodialysis calculated by the calculation unit  20 . The information about hemodialysis inputted through the interface  30  includes a removal volume of water by hemodialysis, a hemodialysis period, blood and dialysate flow rates passing through a dialyzer during hemodialysis, and the membrane area of a dialyzer used in hemodialysis, for example. The information about hemodialysis calculated by the calculation unit  20  includes an overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid of a dialyzer used in hemodialysis, a dialyzer clearance for uric acid, and a removal amount of uric acid that are calculated based on the information inputted through the interface  30 , for example. 
     The calculation method storage unit  18  is configured to store various mathematical formulas used for calculating the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume. For example, the calculation method storage unit  18  stores formulas of Mathematical 3, 6 to 9, 13, 15, and 23 which will be described later in detail. The calculation unit  20  is configured to calculate various numerical values that are used for calculating the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume by substituting the various numerical values stored in the patient&#39;s information storage unit  14  and the hemodialysis information storage unit  16  into the formulas stored in the calculation method storage unit  18 . 
     The interface  30  is a display device configured to provide (output) various types of information calculated by the extracellular fluid volume calculator  10  to an operator, and is also an input device configured to receive instructions and information from the operator. The interface  30  can display, to the operator, a calculated post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume and the like, for example. Further, the interface  30  can receive input of various types of information about the hemodialysis patient (pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentrations, pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis hematocrit values, etc.) and various types of information about hemodialysis (removal volume of water, hemodialysis period, blood flow rate passing through a dialyzer, dialysate flow rate passing through a dialyzer, membrane area of a dialyzer used in hemodialysis, etc.). 
     Here, a method for calculating a post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume using various types of information inputted to the interface  30  will be described. The extracellular fluid volume calculator  10  according to the present embodiment is configured to calculate a post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume, focusing on the difference between pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis uric acid quantities in the extracellular compartment  50 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a fluid compartment in a body is divided into the intracellular compartment  40  and the extracellular compartment  50 , and the extracellular compartment  50  is divided into an interstitial compartment  52  and an intravascular compartment  54 . Uric acid is distributed in both the intracellular compartment  40  and the extracellular compartment  50 , but does not pass through a cell membrane  42  within four hours or so, which is a typical hemodialysis period. On the other hand, uric acid passes through a capillary membrane  56 . Therefore, the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume can be calculated by focusing on the difference between pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis uric acid quantities in the extracellular compartment  50 . 
     The method for calculating a post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume based on the difference between pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis uric acid quantities in the extracellular compartment  50  will be described further in detail. An amount of uric acid removed from the extracellular compartment  50  by hemodialysis (which may be referred to as “removal amount of uric acid”, hereinbelow) is equal to a difference between an amount of uric acid distributed in the extracellular compartment  50  before hemodialysis and an amount of uric acid distributed in the extracellular compartment  50  after hemodialysis. Here, an amount of uric acid distributed in the extracellular compartment  50  can be calculated by multiplying an extracellular fluid volume by a uric acid concentration in the extracellular compartment  50 . Thus, the formula of Mathematical 1 below holds up. Here,  acid E represents removal amount of uric acid,  ecf Vs represents pre-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume,  ecf Ve represents post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume,  acid Cs represents pre-hemodialysis uric acid concentration in the extracellular compartment  50 , and  acid Ce represents post-hemodialysis uric acid concentration in the extracellular compartment  50 . Since uric acid passes through the capillary membrane  56 , a uric acid concentration in the intravascular compartment  54  is equal to a uric acid concentration in the interstitial compartment  52 . Further, since the extracellular compartment  50  is the combination of the intravascular compartment  54  and the interstitial compartment  52 , the uric acid concentration in the extracellular compartment  50  can be considered as the uric acid concentration in the intravascular compartment  54 . Thus, the uric acid concentration in the extracellular compartment  50  can be considered as a plasma uric acid concentration. 
         acid   E=   ecf   Vs×   acid   Cs−   ecf   Ve×   acid   Ce   [Mathematical 1]
 
     Next, a volume of water removed from the extracellular compartment  50  by hemodialysis will be described. A difference between a pre-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume and a post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume is equal to a volume of water removed from the body by hemodialysis (which may be referred to as “removal volume of water”, hereinbelow). Therefore, the formula of Mathematical 2 below holds up, where  dial EW represents removal volume of water. 
         ecf   Vs−   ecf   Ve=   dial   EW   [Mathematical 2]
 
     From the formulas of Mathematical 1 and 2, the formula of Mathematical 3 below is obtained. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                         
                     
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     As described, the pre-hemodialysis uric acid concentration  acid Cs in the extracellular compartment  50  is equal to the pre-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentration, and the post-hemodialysis uric acid concentration  acid Ce in the extracellular compartment  50  is equal to the post-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentration. Further, the pre-hemodialysis uric acid concentration  acid Cs and the post-hemodialysis uric acid concentration  acid Ce can be acquired as measured values. Furthermore, the removal volume of water  dial EW can also be acquired as a measured value. Thus, post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve can be calculated using the above formula of Mathematical 3 by acquiring or calculating a removal amount of uric acid  acid E. A method for calculating the removal amount of uric acid  acid E will be described below. 
     In the present embodiment, a dialyzer clearance for uric acid is necessary to calculate the removal amount of uric acid  acid E, and a dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid is necessary to calculate the dialyzer clearance for uric acid. In the present embodiment, an overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid of a dialyzer used in hemodialysis is calculated based on the membrane area of the dialyzer. Specifically, the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid is calculated based on the membrane area of the dialyzer used in hemodialysis, the dialyzer clearance for uric acid is calculated from the calculated dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid, a blood flow rate passing through the dialyzer, and a dialysate flow rate passing through the dialyzer, and then the removal amount of uric acid  acid E is calculated using the calculated dialyzer clearance for uric acid. 
     Other than the method according to the present embodiment, the removal amount of uric acid  acid E may be acquired by measuring an amount of uric acid removed into the dialysate by hemodialysis. Specifically, it can be calculated by measuring a uric acid concentration in the used dialysate after hemodialysis and by multiplying the measured uric acid concentration by the volume of the used dialysate. When this method is used for a patient with a low plasma uric acid concentration, however, the accuracy of the calculated removal amount of uric acid may be low due to measurement error because a uric acid concentration in the used dialysate of such patient is extremely low. Generally, the plasma uric acid concentration at the end of hemodialysis is approximately 2 mg/dL, and in this case, the uric acid concentration in the used dialysate is approximately 0.8 mg/dL. Meanwhile, in some patients, the plasma uric acid concentration at the end of hemodialysis is approximately 1.0 mg/dL, and in this case, the uric acid concentration in the used dialysate can often be lower than 0.5 mg/dL. In case where a uric acid concentration in an analyte is measured as a measured value using a typical measurement instrument, the measured uric acid concentration in the analyte is indicated only up to the first digit after decimal point, such as 4.5 mg/dL. If the uric acid concentration in the used dialysate is erroneously measured as 0.4 mg/dL due to measurement error despite that it actually is approximately 0.5 mg/dL, the error is approximately 20%. If the removal amount of uric acid is calculated based thereon, it also includes the great error of approximately 20%. In view of this, in the present embodiment, the removal amount of uric acid  acid dE is calculated based on the plasma uric acid concentration and the clearance for uric acid of a dialyzer used in hemodialysis in order to accurately acquire the removal amount of uric acid  acid E even for patients with low plasma uric acid concentration. 
     A method for calculating a dialyzer clearance for uric acid according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below. It is known that the plasma uric acid concentration decreases exponentially during hemodialysis. Thus, the formula of Mathematical 4 below holds up, where  acid C(t) represents plasma uric acid concentration at a time t during hemodialysis, and  acid A represents coefficient. The coefficient  acid A is expressed as in the formula of Mathematical 5 below, where Td is a hemodialysis period. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                         
                     
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     The formula of Mathematical 6 below can be obtained from the formulas of Mathematical 4 and 5. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                           
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     A uric acid removal rate at the time t during hemodialysis can be calculated by multiplying the dialyzer clearance for uric acid at the time t by the plasma uric acid concentration  acid C(t) at the time t. Thus, the formula of Mathematical 7 below holds up, where  acid F(t) represents uric acid removal rate at the time t during hemodialysis and  acid K(t) represents dialyzer clearance for uric acid at the time t during hemodialysis. 
         acid   F ( t )= acid   K ( t )× acid   C ( t )  [Mathematical 7]
 
     The dialyzer clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid is a variable depending on the time t. Uric acid is distributed in both plasma and blood cells (Nagendra S, et al: A comparative study of plasma uric acid, erythrocyte uric acid and urine uric acid levels in type 2 diabetic subjects. Merit Research Journal 3: 571-574, 2015), however, it does not pass through red blood cell membranes, which are cell membranes. Thus, uric acid is removed only from a plasma compartment of blood passing through the dialyzer during hemodialysis (Eric Descombes, et al: Diffusion kinetics of urea, creatinine and uric acid in blood during hemodialysis. Clinical implications. Clinical Nephrology 40: 286-295, 1993). Accordingly, not the blood flow rate passing through the dialyzer but a plasma flow rate passing through the dialyzer is used to calculate the dialyzer clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid. By the way, as the blood is concentrated by the water removal during hemodialysis, the hematocrit value increases over time during hemodialysis. Thus, the plasma flow rate is not constant during hemodialysis. Accordingly, the dialyzer clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid, which is calculated using the plasma flow rate passing through the dialyzer, also changes with the change in the plasma flow rate passing through the dialyzer over time. That is, the dialyzer clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid is a variable depending on the time t. To calculate the removal amount of uric acid  acid E, the uric acid removal rate at the time t calculated using the formula of Mathematical 7 is added up while changing the time t from t=0 up to t=Td at regular intervals (e.g., at intervals of 0.1 min.). That is, the removal amount of uric acid  acid E is calculated using the formula of Mathematical 8 below. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                         
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     The dialyzer clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid at the time t can be calculated using a known formula for calculating a dialyzer clearance for solute. That is, the dialyzer clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid at the time t can be calculated using the formula of Mathematical 9 below, where  acid KoA represents dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid, Q Pt  represents plasma flow rate passing through the dialyzer at the time t during hemodialysis, and Q D  represents dialysate flow rate passing through the dialyzer. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                           
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                          
                         
                           { 
                           
                             
                               
                                   
                                 acid 
                               
                                
                               KoA 
                             
                             ( 
                             
                               
                                 1 
                                 
                                   Q 
                                   Pt 
                                 
                               
                               - 
                               
                                 1 
                                 
                                   Q 
                                   D 
                                 
                               
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           } 
                         
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         1 
                         
                           Q 
                           D 
                         
                       
                       - 
                       
                         
                           1 
                           
                             Q 
                             Pt 
                           
                         
                          
                         exp 
                          
                         
                           { 
                           
                             
                               
                                   
                                 acid 
                               
                                
                               KoA 
                             
                             ( 
                             
                               
                                 1 
                                 
                                   Q 
                                   Pt 
                                 
                               
                               - 
                               
                                 1 
                                 
                                   Q 
                                   D 
                                 
                               
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           } 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   [ 
                   
                     Mathematical 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     9 
                   
                   ] 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     The dialysate flow rate Q D  passing through the dialyzer can be acquired as a measured value. Thus, the dialyzer clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid at the time t can be calculated by acquiring or calculating the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid and the plasma flow rate Q Pt  passing through the dialyzer at the time t. 
     A method for calculating the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid will be described. As a result of dedicated study by the inventors, it has been revealed that, in case where a hollow fiber dialyzer is used, the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid is correlated with a membrane area of the dialyzer. A relationship between the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid and the membrane area of the dialyzer will be described below. 
     An example in which overall mass transfer-area coefficients for uric acid were respectively calculated for dialyzers with different membrane areas in an ex-vivo experiment using bovine blood will be explained. Four different hollow fiber dialyzers, which belong to the same series (PES-SEαeo series manufactured by Nipro Corporation), were used in the experiment, and their membrane areas were 1.1 m 2 , 1.5 m 2 , 2.1 m 2 , and 2.5 m 2 . Bovine blood with hematocrit value of 32% was flowed through each of the dialyzers at 200 mL/min, and dialysate was also flowed the through at 500 mL/min in the opposite direction to the flowing direction of the bovine blood. When one minute elapsed since the bovine blood (which may be referred to simply as “blood” hereinbelow) started being flowed through the dialyzers, the blood was sampled at a blood inlet and a blood outlet of each dialyzer. The blood samples were subjected to centrifugal process immediately and uric acid concentrations in the plasma were measured. Based on these measured values, ex-vivo clearance for uric acid of each dialyzer was calculated using the formula of Mathematical 10 below, where K represents dialyzer clearance for uric acid, Cin represents plasma uric acid concentration at the blood inlet of the dialyzer, Cout represents plasma uric acid concentration at the blood outlet of the dialyzer, and QP represents plasma flow rate passing through the dialyzer. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   K 
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         Cin 
                         - 
                         Cout 
                       
                       Cin 
                     
                     × 
                     QP 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   [ 
                   
                     Mathematical 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     10 
                   
                   ] 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     Plasma means a part of blood from which blood cell components are excluded. Thus, the plasma flow rate QP passing through the dialyzer in the formula of Mathematical 10 can be calculated using the formula of Mathematical 11 below, where Ht represents hematocrit value and Q B  represents blood flow rate passing through the dialyzer. 
         QP =(1− Ht/ 100)× Q   B   [Mathematical 11]
 
     As mentioned, the hematocrit value of the bovine blood used in the above ex-vivo experiment was 32%, and the blood flow rate Q B  passing through the dialyzers was 200 mL/min. By substituting these values into Mathematical 11, 136 mL/min was obtained as the plasma flow rate QP passing through the dialyzers used in the experiment. 
     Next, an overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid was calculated for each of the dialyzers using the formula of Mathematical 12 below, which is a modification of the formula of Mathematical 9. In the formula of Mathematical 12, KoA represents dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid, Q D  represents dialysate flow rate passing through the dialyzer in the ex-vivo experiment, and K represents dialyzer clearance for uric acid measured in the ex-vivo experiment. As mentioned, in the ex-vivo experiment, the dialysate flow rate Q D  passing through the dialyzers was 500 mL/min, and the plasma flow rate QP passing through the dialyzers was 136 mL/min. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   KoA 
                   = 
                   
                     
                       ln 
                       ( 
                       
                         
                           1 
                           - 
                           
                             K 
                             / 
                             
                               Q 
                               D 
                             
                           
                         
                         
                           1 
                           - 
                           
                             K 
                             / 
                             QP 
                           
                         
                       
                       ) 
                     
                     
                       
                         1 
                         / 
                         QP 
                       
                       - 
                       
                         1 
                         / 
                         
                           Q 
                           D 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   [ 
                   
                     Mathematical 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     12 
                   
                   ] 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     As above, overall mass transfer-area coefficients for uric acid were calculated for the dialyzers. The result is shown below. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Clearance for 
                 Overall Mass Transfer-Area 
               
               
                 Membrane 
                 Uric Acid 
                 Coefficient for Uric Acid 
               
               
                 Area (m 2 ) 
                 (ml/min) 
                 (ml/min) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 1.1 
                 111 
                 187 
               
               
                 1.5 
                 122 
                 220 
               
               
                 2.1 
                 130 
                 248 
               
               
                 2.5 
                 129 
                 247 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Regarding the result shown in Table 1,  FIG. 3  shows a graph for a relationship between the membrane areas of the dialyzers and their overall mass transfer-area coefficients for uric acid. As shown in  FIG. 3 , it has been confirmed that there is a correlation relationship between the membrane areas of the dialyzers and their overall mass transfer-area coefficients for uric acid as expressed in the formula of Mathematical 13 below. 
         y= 76.306 ln( x )+184.23  [Mathematical 13]
 
     Accordingly, by substituting the membrane area of a dialyzer used in hemodialysis into the formula of Mathematical 13, the overall mass transfer-area coefficient KoA for uric acid of the dialyzer can be calculated. 
     Next, a method for calculating the plasma flow rate Qs passing through the dialyzer at the time t during hemodialysis will be described. The volume of plasma compartment in blood of a patient is expressed in the formula of Mathematical 14 below, where PV represents plasma volume. BV represents blood volume, and Ht represents hematocrit value. 
         PV={ 1− Ht/ 100})× BV   [Mathematical 14]
 
     The formula of Mathematical 15 is obtained by rearranging the formula of Mathematical 4 into a relationship between the blood flow rate and the plasma flow rate passing through the dialyzer at the time t. Here, Ht(t) represents hematocrit value (%) at the time t during hemodialysis. Q B  represents blood flow rate passing through the dialyzer at the time t during hemodialysis, and Q Pt  represents plasma flow rate passing through the dialyzer at the time t during hemodialysis. The blood flow rate Q B  passing through the dialyzer is constant during hemodialysis. 
         Q   Pt ={1− Ht ( t )/100}× Q   B   [Mathematical 15]
 
     The blood flow rate Q B  passing through the dialyzer does not change over time and can be acquired as a measured value. Thus, the plasma flow rate Q Pt  passing through the dialyzer can be calculated by calculating the hematocrit value Ht(t) at the time t. Hereinbelow, a method for calculating the hematocrit value H(t) at the time t will be described. 
     With constant water removal rate, the blood volume in the body decreases substantially in a linear fashion during hemodialysis. This has been confirmed by the inventors studying measurement result from a BV meter (blood volume meter). Thus, a blood volume BV(t) at the time t during hemodialysis is expressed as in the formula of Mathematical 16, where BVs represents blood volume at t=1. Here, a is usually a negative value. 
         BV ( t )=α× t+BVs   [Mathematical 16]
 
     In Mathematical 17, the value α can be calculated by substituting t=Td in the formula of Mathematical 16, where BVe represents blood volume at the end of hemodialysis. 
         BVe=α×Td+BVs   [Mathematical 17]
 
     The formula of Mathematical 18 below is obtained by rearranging the above formula of Mathematical 17. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   α 
                   = 
                   
                     
                       BVe 
                       - 
                       BVs 
                     
                     Td 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   [ 
                   
                     Mathematical 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     18 
                   
                   ] 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     The formula of Mathematical 19 below is obtained by substituting the value α calculated in the formula of Mathematical 18 into the above formula of Mathematical 16. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     BV 
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       t 
                       ) 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           BVe 
                           - 
                           BVs 
                         
                         Td 
                       
                       × 
                       t 
                     
                     + 
                     BVs 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   [ 
                   
                     Mathematical 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     19 
                   
                   ] 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     The total number of red blood cells in the body is constant and does not change over time. This means that the total red blood cell volume is also constant and does not change over time. The total red blood cell volume in the body is calculated by multiplying the blood volume in the body by one-hundredth of the hematocrit value. Thus, the formulas of Mathematical 20 to 22 are obtained, where TE represents total red blood cell volume in the body. 
         BV ( t )× Ht ( t )/100= TE   [Mathematical 20]
 
         BVs×Hts/ 100= TE   [Mathematical 21]
 
         BVe×Hte/ 100= TE   [Mathematical 22]
 
     The formula of Mathematical 23 below is obtained from the above formulas of Mathematical 19 to 22. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     Ht 
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       t 
                       ) 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       Td 
                       
                         
                           
                             ( 
                             
                               
                                 Hts 
                                 / 
                                 Hte 
                               
                               - 
                               1 
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           × 
                           t 
                         
                         + 
                         Td 
                       
                     
                     × 
                     Hts 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   [ 
                   
                     Mathematical 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     23 
                   
                   ] 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     A pre-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hts and a post-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hte can be acquired as measured values. Further, as described, the hemodialysis period Td can be acquired as a measured value. Thus, the hematocrit value Ht(t) at the time t during hemodialysis can be calculated by substituting the pre-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hts, the post-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hte, and the hemodialysis period Td into the formula of Mathematical 23. Then, the plasma flow rate Q Pt  passing through the dialyzer at the time t can be calculated by substituting the hematocrit value Ht(t) at the time t calculated in the formula of Mathematical 23 and the acquired blood flow rate Q B  passing through the dialyzer into the formula of Mathematical 15. That is, the plasma flow rate Q passing through the dialyzer at the time t can be calculated from the pre-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hts, the post-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hte, the hemodialysis period Td, and the blood flow rate Q B . 
     The dialyzer clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid at the time t can be calculated by substituting the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid calculated using the formula of Mathematical 13, the plasma flow rate QR passing through the dialyzer at the time t calculated using the formula of Mathematical 15, and the dialysate flow rate Q D  which is constant throughout the process into the formula of Mathematical 9. That is, the dialyzer clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid at the time t can be calculated from the membrane area of the dialyzer used in hemodialysis, the pre-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hts, the post-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hte, the hemodialysis period Td, the blood flow rate Q B  passing through the dialyzer, and the dialysate flow rate Q D  which is constant throughout the process. 
     Further, the removal amount of uric acid  acid E can be calculated by substituting the dialyzer clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid at the time t calculated using the formula of Mathematical 9 and the plasma uric acid concentration  acid C(t) at the time t calculated using the formula of Mathematical 6 into the formula of Mathematical 8. That is, the removal amount of uric acid  acid E can be calculated from the membrane area of the dialyzer used in hemodialysis, the pre-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentration  acid Cs, the post-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentration  acid Ce, the pre-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hts, the post-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hte, the hemodialysis period Td, the blood flow rate Q B  passing through the dialyzer, and the dialysate flow rate Q D  passing through the dialyzer. 
     Further, the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve can be calculated by substituting the removal amount of uric acid  acid E calculated using the formula of Mathematical 8 and the acquired pre-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentration  acid Cs, post-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentration  acid Ce, and removal volume of water  dial EW into the formula of Mathematical 3. 
     As above, in the present embodiment, the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve can be calculated from the pre-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentration  acid Cs, the post-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentration  acid Ce, the pre-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hts, the post-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hte, the removal volume of water  acid EW, the hemodialysis period Td, the blood flow rate Q B  passing through the dialyzer, the dialysate flow rate Q D  passing through the dialyzer, and the membrane area of the dialyzer used in hemodialysis. 
     In verification by the inventors, it has been confirmed that the removal amount of uric acid  acid E is accurately calculated based on the overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid calculated from the membrane area using the formula of Mathematical 13. In the verification, for each of five patents on whom a dialyzer with membrane area of 0.9 m 2  was used, six patients on whom dialyzers with membrane area of 1.5 m 2  were used, and four patients on whom dialyzers with membrane area of 2.1 m 2  were used, a measured value of the total removal amount of uric acid removed by hemodialysis was compared to the removal amount of uric acid  acid E calculated based on the overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid calculated from the membrane area using the formula of Mathematical 13. More specifically, a dialyzer with membrane area of 0.9 m 2  (FB-90Pβ, manufactured by Nipro Corporation) was used on five patients, a dialyzer with membrane area of 1.5 m 2  (APS-15SA, manufactured by Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.) was used on two patients, a dialyzer with membrane area of 1.5 m 2  (PES-15Sea, manufactured by Nipro Corporation) was used on three patients, a dialyzer with membrane area of 1.5 m 2  (NV-15X, manufactured by Toray Medical Company Limited) was used on one patient, a dialyzer with membrane area of 2.1 m 2  (FDX-210GW, manufactured by Nikkiso Co., Ltd.) was used on one patient, a dialyzer with membrane area of 2.1 m 2  (PES-21Sαeco, manufactured by Nipro Corporation) was used on one patient, and a dialyzer with membrane area of 2.1 m 2  (NV-21X, manufactured by Toray Medical Company Limited) was used on two patients. For each of these fifteen patients on whom the dialyzers were used, a measured value of the total removal amount of uric acid removed by hemodialysis was acquired and the removal amount of uric acid  acid E was calculated based on the overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid calculated from the membrane area using the formula of Mathematical 13. The result is shown in Table 2 below. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Estimated 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Measured 
                 Removal 
               
               
                 Patient 
                 Dialyzer 
                 Manufacturer of 
                 Membrane 
                 Removal Amount 
                 Amount of 
               
               
                 No. 
                 Name 
                 Dialyzer 
                 Area (m 2 ) 
                 of Uric Acid (g) 
                 Uric Acid (g) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 FB-90Pβ 
                 Nipro 
                 0.9 
                 1.02 
                 0.95 
               
               
                 2 
                 FB-90Pβ 
                 Nipro 
                 0.9 
                 0.88 
                 0.93 
               
               
                 3 
                 FB-90Pβ 
                 Nipro 
                 0.9 
                 0.85 
                 0.85 
               
               
                 4 
                 FB-90Pβ 
                 Nipro 
                 0.9 
                 1.00 
                 1.05 
               
               
                 5 
                 FB-90Pβ 
                 Nipro 
                 0.9 
                 0.50 
                 0.45 
               
               
                 6 
                 APS-15SA 
                 Asahi Kasei Medical 
                 1.5 
                 1.30 
                 1.14 
               
               
                 7 
                 APS-15SA 
                 Asahi Kasei Medical 
                 1.5 
                 0.80 
                 0.85 
               
               
                 8 
                 PES-15SEα 
                 Nipro 
                 1.5 
                 1.20 
                 1.07 
               
               
                 9 
                 PES-15SEα 
                 Nipro 
                 1.5 
                 1.10 
                 0.95 
               
               
                 10 
                 PES-15SEα 
                 Nipro 
                 1.5 
                 0.60 
                 0.68 
               
               
                 11 
                 NV-15X 
                 Toray Medical 
                 1.5 
                 0.80 
                 0.84 
               
               
                 12 
                 FDX-210GW 
                 Nikkiso 
                 2.1 
                 1.00 
                 0.97 
               
               
                 13 
                 PES-21Sαeco 
                 Nipro 
                 2.1 
                 1.21 
                 1.26 
               
               
                 14 
                 NV-21X 
                 Toray Medical 
                 2.1 
                 1.02 
                 0.97 
               
               
                 15 
                 NV-21X 
                 Toray Medical 
                 2.1 
                 0.96 
                 0.97 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Regarding the result shown in Table 2,  FIG. 4  shows a graph for the removal amounts of uric acid by hemodialysis by the dialyzer&#39;s membrane area. As shown in  FIG. 4 , each of the dialyzers did not produce a significant difference between the measured value and the calculated value. 
     Next, a process executed by the extracellular fluid volume calculator  10  to calculate the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve will be described. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the processor  12  firstly acquires various types of information about the hemodialysis patient (S 12 ). The various types of information about the hemodialysis patient include, for example, the pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentrations  acid Cs and  acid Ce, the pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis hematocrit values Hts and Hte, and the like. The various types of information about the hemodialysis patient are acquired as described below, for example. How the pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentrations  acid Cs and  acid Ce are acquired will be described as an example. Firstly, blood samples are collected from the hemodialysis patient before and after hemodialysis. Then, the blood sample collected before hemodialysis is subjected to centrifugal process to separate the blood into blood cells and plasma, and the uric acid concentration  acid Cs in the separated plasma is measured, and further, the blood sample collected after hemodialysis is subjected to centrifugal process to separate the blood into blood cells and plasma, and the uric acid concentration  acid Ce in the separated plasma is measured. How the uric acid concentrations are measured is not particularly limited. The operator inputs the measured pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentrations  acid Cs and  acid Ce into the interface  30 . The inputted pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentrations  acid Cs and  acid Ce are outputted from the interface  30  to the processor  12  and stored in the patient&#39;s information storage unit  14 . Further, the pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis hematocrit values Hts and Hte are respectively measured from the blood samples collected from the hemodialysis patient before and after hemodialysis. These measured values are stored in the patient&#39;s information storage unit  14  through the interface  30 . 
     Next, the processor  12  acquires various types of information about hemodialysis (S 14 ). The various types of information about hemodialysis include, for example, the removal volume of water  dial EW, the hemodialysis period Td, the blood flow rate Q B  passing through the dialyzer, the dialysate flow rate Q D  passing through the dialyzer, the membrane area of the dialyzer, and the like. The removal volume of water  dial EW, the hemodialysis period Td, the blood flow rate Q B  passing through the dialyzer, the dialysate flow rate Q D  passing through the dialyzer, and the membrane area of the dialyzer are inputted to the interface  30  by the operator. Then, the removal volume of water  dial EW, the hemodialysis period Td, the blood flow rate Q B  passing through the dialyzer, the dialysate flow rate Q D  passing through the dialyzer, and the membrane area of the dialyzer are outputted from the interface  30  to the processor  12  and stored in the hemodialysis information storage unit  16 . 
     In the present embodiment, step S 14  is carried out after step S 12 , however, no limitations are placed on the order of these steps. For example, step S 14  may be carried out before step S 12 . Further, the acquisition order for the plural pieces of information acquired in step S 12  and the plural pieces of information acquired in step S 14  is not particularly limited. Any acquisition order may be applied as long as all of the items of step S 12  and step S 14  can be acquired. For example, the information to be acquired in step S 14  may be acquired before all of the plural pieces of information to be acquired in step S 12  are acquired. 
     Next, the calculation unit  20  calculates the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid (S 16 ), using the membrane area of the dialyzer used in hemodialysis among the information about hemodialysis acquired in step S 14 . The dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid is calculated using the formula of Mathematical 13 stored in the calculation method storage unit  18 . Specifically, the calculation unit  20  substitutes the value of dialyzer&#39;s membrane area stored in the hemodialysis information storage unit  16  into the formula of Mathematical 13 to calculate the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid. The calculated dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid is stored in the hemodialysis information storage unit  16 . 
     Next, the calculation unit  20  calculates the clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid of the dialyzer used in hemodialysis at the time t (S 18 ), using the information about the hemodialysis patient acquired in step S 12 , the information about hemodialysis acquired in step S 14 , and the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid calculated in step  16 . The clearance for uric acid of the dialyzer used in hemodialysis is calculated using the formulas of Mathematical 9, 15, and 23 stored in the calculation method storage unit  18 . 
     Specifically, the calculation unit  20  firstly calculates the hematocrit value Ht(t) at the time t during hemodialysis by substituting the pre-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hts and the post-hemodialysis hematocrit value Hte stored in the patient&#39;s information storage unit  14  and the hemodialysis period Td stored in the hemodialysis information storage unit  16  into the formula of Mathematical 23. Then, the calculation unit  20  calculates the plasma flow rate Q pt  passing through the dialyzer at the time t by substituting the hematocrit value Ht(t) at the time t calculated using the formula of Mathematical 23 and the blood flow rate Q B  passing through the dialyzer stored in the hemodialysis information storage unit  16  into the formula of Mathematical 15. The calculation unit  20  then calculates the clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid of the dialyzer used in hemodialysis at the time t by substituting the overall mass transfer-area coefficient  acid KoA for uric acid calculated in step S 16 , the plasma flow rate Q pt  passing through the dialyzer at the time t calculated using the formula of Mathematical 15, and the dialysate flow rate Q D  passing through the dialyzer. The calculated clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid at the time t is stored in the hemodialysis information storage unit  16 . 
     Next, the calculation unit  20  calculates the removal amount of uric acid  acid E (S 20 ) using the information about the hemodialysis patient acquired in step S 12 , the information about hemodialysis acquired in step S 14 , and the calculated clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid at the time t calculated in step S 18 . The removal amount of uric acid  acid E is calculated using the formulas of Mathematical 6 and 8 stored in calculation method storage unit  18 . Specifically, the calculation unit  20  firstly calculates the plasma uric acid concentration  acid C(t) at the time t during hemodialysis by substituting the pre-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentration  acid Cs and the post-hemodialysis plasma uric acid concentration  acid Ce stored in the patient&#39;s information storage unit  14  and the hemodialysis period Td stored in the hemodialysis information storage unit  16  into the formula of Mathematical 6. Then, the calculation unit  20  calculates the removal amount of uric acid  acid E by substituting the clearance  acid K(t) for uric acid at the time t calculated in step S 18  and the plasma uric acid concentration  acid C(t) at the time t during hemodialysis calculated using the formula of Mathematical 6 into the formula of Mathematical 8. The removal amount of uric acid  acid E is stored in the hemodialysis information storage unit  16 . 
     Lastly, the calculation unit  20  calculates the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve (S 22 ) using the information about the hemodialysis patient acquired in step S 2 , the information about hemodialysis acquired in step S 14 , and the removal amount of uric acid  acid E calculated in step S 20 . The post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve is calculated using the formula of Mathematical 3 stored in the calculation method storage unit  18 . 
     Specifically, the calculation unit  20  calculates the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve by substituting the pre-hemodialysis uric acid concentration  acid Cs, the post-hemodialysis uric acid concentration  acid Ce, the removal volume of water  dial EW stored in the hemodialysis information storage unit  16 , and the removal amount of uric acid  acid E calculated in step S 20  into the formula of Mathematical 3, the calculated post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve is stored in the patient&#39;s information storage unit  14 . 
     In the present embodiment, the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve can be calculated focusing on the removal amount of uric acid  acid E removed by hemodialysis. The removal amount of uric acid  acid E can be calculated easily and accurately based on the clearance for uric acid of the dialyzer used in the hemodialysis. Further, the dialyzer clearance for solute can be calculated, using a known formula, based on the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for the solute. By using the method according to the preset embodiment, the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for the solute can be calculated from the membrane area of the dialyzer. That is, the present embodiment enables the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve to be accurately calculated as a specific value from numerical values that can be easily acquired from the blood of a hemodialysis patient before and after hemodialysis and numerical values about hemodialysis that can be easily acquired. 
     In the present embodiment, the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve is calculated without consideration for the volume of water that transfers from the extracellular compartment  50  to the intracellular compartment  40  during hemodialysis. Although the volume of water that transfers from the extracellular compartment  50  to the intracellular compartment  40  during hemodialysis may be taken into consideration, it is negligibly small, so that the post-hemodialysis extracellular fluid volume  ecf Ve can be accurately calculated even though it is ignored. 
     While specific examples of the present disclosure have been described above in detail, these examples are merely illustrative and place no limitation on the scope of the patent claims. The technology described in the patent claims also encompasses various changes and modifications to the specific examples described above. The technical elements explained in the present description or drawings provide technical utility either independently or through various combinations. The present disclosure is not limited to the combinations described at the time the claims are filed. 
     In the above embodiment, the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid is calculated by substituting the membrane area of the actually used dialyzer into the experiment formula indicating the relationship between the dialyzer&#39;s membrane area and the dialyzer overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid. However, this is merely an example. A table in which each of various different dialyzer&#39;s membrane areas is associated with its corresponding overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid may be created in advance, and an overall mass transfer-area coefficient for uric acid associated with the actually used dialyzer&#39;s membrane area may be read from the table.