[Changes in fluid spaces in patients with heart failure under the effects of isolated ultrafiltration]

The study was undertaken to examine 22 patients with chronic heart failure of Stages IIB-III according to the classification developed by V. Kh. Vasilenko and N.D. Strazhesko. In patients with severe heart failure accompanied by the edematous syndrome, sessions of isolated ultrafiltration was found to result in substantially lower volumes of circulating plasma, extracellular and interstitial fluids and in increased total protein and hematocrit. When decreased just after each session of isolated infiltration, the volume of circulating plasma increased later due to fluid transfer from the extracellular space into the vascular bed. On day 20 of treatment the volume of circulating plasma reached the baseline values by altering the qualitative composition of plasma.