Changes of the hepatic CT absorption value in hemodialysis patients.

The effect of hemodialysis on the CT absorption value of the liver was examined in 14 hemodialysis patients. In the high ultrafiltration group [10 patients with a weight loss of -1.7 to -3.5 (2.9 +/- 0.6) kg], the hepatic CT absorption value increased from 49.6 +/- 7.0 to 58.7 +/- 8.7 Hounsfield units (p less than 0.001) during hemodialysis. The increase in hepatic CT absorption value during dialysis correlated with the weight loss (p less than 0.001, r = 0.798). A 5.3% body weight loss by ultrafiltration resulted in an 18.5% increase in the CT absorption value of the liver. This study suggests that one should be careful in making an early diagnosis of hepatic disease, especially hemosiderosis, in hemodialysis patients based on the hepatic CT absorption value because it is affected by hemodialysis.