[Leukopenia and hypoxemia induced by hemodialysis]

Patients with uremia usually develop hypoxemia during hemodialysis therapy. It has been thought by most of the investigators that the development of hypoxemia is related to the impropriety of biocompatibility of the dialyzer membranes. Besides, acetate dialysate through metabolism may cause a decrease of respiratory quotient and some amount of CO2 may be lost during hemodialysis. The decrease of CO2 in the blood may induce hypoventilation and therefore develop hypoxemia. A total of 32 patients who received hemodialysis therapy were studied. They were divided into group A and group B. In group A, there were 14 males and 8 females. They were hemodialyzed with cuprophan dialyzer membrane for 22 times totally. In group B, there were 6 males and 4 females. They were hemodialyzed with PMMA dialyzer membrane for 16 times totally. In both groups, acetate dialysate was used. Arterial blood gas analyses were hemodialyzed with PMMA dialyzer membrane for 16 times totally. In both groups, acetate dialysate was used. Arterial blood gas analyses were performed before hemodialysis as the baseline and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 minutes during hemodialysis. White blood cell counts (WBC) were done at the same time when arterial blood gas analyses were performed. The results showed that in group A, a marked decrease of WBC at 15 minutes (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)