Effect of dialysate sodium on the dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline concentration in haemodialysis patients.

In eight stable patients, plasma dopamine (DA), adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA) was measured during haemodialysis with high sodium (148mEq/L) and low sodium (131mEq/L) dialysate. During haemodialysis and ultrafiltration with high dialysate sodium an increase of DA, A and NA was not observed in response to the cold pressor test (CD). However, with the low sodium dialysate an increase in DA and NA was observed during CD. We suggest that high sodium dialysate is connected with the sympathetic dysfunction of haemodialysis patients.