[Pulmonary diffusing capacity in patients with chronic renal failure treated by hemodialysis]

Forty-eight patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) receiving hemodialysis (24 males and 24 females) aged 17-62 underwent bicycle exercise to measure diffuse capacity of the lungs (DCL) before and after the test. DCL components (membraneous and blood volume in pulmonary capillaries, Vc) were defined in 33 out of 48 patients. DCL appeared to reduce significantly (up to 65 +/- 2%) at the expense of Vc fall to 51 +/- 4.5% and membraneous component decline, to 65 +/- 4%. DCL depended on severity of anemia, hemodialysis efficiency, electrolyte metabolism activity and CRI gravity. Performance status in CRI patients is limited by DCL value responsible for maximal oxygen consumption under exercise being independent on duration and type of hemodialysis.