Final answer:
Sodium loading during dialysis typically causes edema due to the increased total volume of water in the body and increased blood pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
When sodium loading is present during a dialysis treatment, it might lead to edema. Sodium loading refers to an increase in sodium levels, leading to an increase in total volume of water in the body as sodium has a strong osmotic effect. This increase in water volume causes swelling, or edema, since the water tends to accumulate in extracellular spaces, sometimes significantly enough to be clinically evident. It is also associated with increased blood pressure and the exacerbation of hypertension due to the expansion of extracellular fluid volume.