[Immediate effect of hemodialysis with cuprophane membrane and acetate containing dialysis fluid on respiratory function in patients with chronic renal failure].

In 20 patients with chronic renal failure on a hemodialysis (HD) programme with a cuprophane membrane and acetate-containing dialysis fluid, gasometric parameters, ventilation disturbances and peripheral blood leucocyte count were determined. A significant fall was observed of the arterial blood oxygen pressure persisting during the first hour of HD, which was parallelled by a fall of the leucocyte count. The loss of CO2 in the dialysate is attributed the major cause of hypoxemia due to alveolar hypoventilation. In 18 patients we observed a ventilation disturbances of restrictive type which were demonstrated with decreased vital capacity (VC), reduced maximal breathing capacity (MBC), increased residual volume (RV) and lower one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1).