Study of some respiratory physiological parameters in patients with chronic renal failure during hemodialysis

ABSTRACT

Twenty non smoker patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis were studied. Forced vital capacity [FVC] and peak expiratory flow [PEF] decreased significantly after 30 minutes from the start of dialysis followed by insidious increase to levels close to predialysis values at the end of dialysis. Maximal expiratory pressure [PE max] did not show any significant change throughout the dialysis. Serum bicarbonate, base excess and arterial pH increased throughout the dialysis specially after 60 minutes from the start of dialysis till its end. Arterial PCO2 showed minimal changes. However, there was a significant increase after 30 minutes as well as throughout the dialysis. The possible roles of uremic pulmonary edema, peribronchial edema, release of bronchoconstrictor mediators secondary to bioincompatibility of the dialyser membrane, uremic myopathy as well as the possible role of hypoventilation occurring as a compensation for CO2 loss through the dialyser were discussed in explanation for the previously mentioned results: