[Pneumonia in patients with terminal renal failure on programmed hemodialysis]

Of 183 patients with terminal renal failure (TRF) on programmed hemodialysis 12(6.5%) were diagnosed to have acute pneumonia. As a rule, the disease develops in hyperhydration and hypertension of the lesser circulation, more rarely concomitant heart disease is diagnosed which runs with general circulation insufficiency. This indicates that pneumonia in dialysis patients is secondary. Pulmonary congestion in pneumonia debut may mask infiltrative alterations. Therefore, in obscure cases it is desirable to combine x-ray examination with polyposition tomoscintigraphy of the lungs. The agent was verified in 33.3% cases. The sputum contained for the most part gram-positive bacteria. Antibacterial therapy was combined with measures against hyperhydration and hypertension. Mean duration of the treatment was 21.25 +/- 13.6 days.