Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
07:52
A Mouse 5/6th Nephrectomy Model That Induces Experimental Uremic Cardiomyopathy
Published on: November 7, 2017
Effects of hemodialysis on cardiac function
1Department of Renal Medicine, Derby City Hospital, Derby, UK. chris.mcintyre@nottingham.ac.uk
Kidney International
|June 12, 2009
Summary
Cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis (HD) patients is high. Conventional HD can cause heart problems, but modifying the process may reduce cardiac injury and improve outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Hemodialysis patients face significantly higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than the general population.
- Pre-existing vascular and cardiac abnormalities in chronic hemodialysis patients predispose them to myocardial ischemia.
- Conventional hemodialysis itself can induce myocardial ischemia, contributing to progressive cardiac damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of conventional hemodialysis in causing cardiac injury in patients undergoing treatment.
- To explore how modifications to hemodialysis can mitigate dialysis-induced ischemia and improve cardiovascular outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on hemodialysis, cardiovascular complications, and myocardial ischemia.
- Analysis of studies examining the impact of hemodialysis on myocardial blood flow and cardiac function.
- Evaluation of the effects of modified hemodialysis protocols on hemodynamic tolerability and ischemia.
Main Results:
- Conventional hemodialysis can induce myocardial ischemia, leading to structural and functional cardiac changes.
- Recurrent ischemic events contribute to systolic dysfunction and heart failure in hemodialysis patients.
- Adjustments to the hemodialysis process have demonstrated a reduction in myocardial blood flow perturbation and ischemia.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of cardiovascular disease burden in hemodialysis patients may be linked to the dialysis treatment itself.
- Understanding dialysis-induced cardiac pathophysiology offers potential therapeutic targets for reducing cardiovascular mortality.
- Modifying hemodialysis may be a viable strategy to reduce cardiac injury and improve prognosis in these patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications
DialyzersA hemodialysis (HD) dialyzer is a plastic cartridge containing thousands of parallel hollow fibers, which serve as semipermeable membranes. These fibers are typically made from cellulose-based or other synthetic materials. During HD, blood is pumped into the top of the cartridge and distributed among these fibers. Simultaneously, dialysis fluid, known as dialysate, is introduced into the bottom of the cartridge, bathing the outside of the fibers. Across the semipermeable membrane,...
01:25Hemodialysis I: Introduction
Hemodialysis (HD) is a medical treatment that artificially removes waste products, excess fluids, and toxins from the blood when the kidneys are no longer able to perform these functions effectively. In this process, blood is filtered through a semipermeable membrane, allowing for the selective removal of waste while preserving necessary components like blood cells and proteins. Hemodialysis is typically performed in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or severe kidney...
01:22Heart Failure Drugs: Diuretics
Heart failure and kidney perfusion are interconnected in a complex way. Reduced renal perfusion and venous congestion are two significant factors that contribute to renal dysfunction in heart failure. The kidneys, primarily responsible for fluid balance in the body, are adversely affected due to compromised cardiac output and increased venous pressure. In response to reduced renal perfusion, the kidneys activate neurohumoral mechanisms to restore balance. However, these mechanisms can be...
01:27Dialysis
Renal failure occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste products from the blood effectively. It can be classified into two types: acute renal failure (ARF) and chronic renal failure (CRF).
Acute kidney injury develops suddenly and can be caused by pre-renal causes (e.g., hypovolemia, shock), intrinsic renal causes (e.g., acute tubular necrosis), or post-renal causes (e.g., urinary obstruction). In contrast, chronic renal failure progresses gradually over time and is often...
Acute kidney injury develops suddenly and can be caused by pre-renal causes (e.g., hypovolemia, shock), intrinsic renal causes (e.g., acute tubular necrosis), or post-renal causes (e.g., urinary obstruction). In contrast, chronic renal failure progresses gradually over time and is often...
01:15Dialysis
Dialysis is a diffusion-based purification process that separates analyte molecules from a complex matrix. This is accomplished by allowing molecules in the solution to pass through a semipermeable membrane into a liquid on the other side. The membrane is usually made of cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate, and the second liquid must be miscible with the solution. Ions (e.g., chloride or sodium) or organic molecules (e.g., glucose) can pass through the membrane pores, which generally have...
01:25Hemodialysis III: Nursing Management
The nursing management of a patient undergoing hemodialysis includes several critical steps, starting with a thorough assessment before the procedure.Before the Hemodialysis ProcedureFirst, record the patient's vital signs—blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature—to establish a baseline. This baseline is essential for detecting conditions such as hypotension that could impact the patient's response to dialysis. Document the patient's pre-dialysis weight, as this measurement...