[Hyperhydration and the cardiovascular system in patients receiving hemodialysis]

In order to evaluate the influence of volume overload on the cardiovascular system, patients on program hemodialysis were examined using ultrasonography and isotope ventriculography. The study revealed a doubtless correlation between hyperhydration, on the one hand, and arterial hypertension, an increased minute volume, and left ventricular hypertrophy, on the other. A growing left atrial contribution was shown to play an important role for the maintenance of an adequate left ventricular filling during a session of hemodialysis with ultrafiltration. The study also found paradoxal blood sequestration in the venous system during the process of ultrafiltration in patients with high parathyroid hormone levels.