[Spirometric alterations caused by hemodialysis. Their relation to changes in the parameters commonly used to measure...

The Forced Expiratory Volume in the 1st second (FEV1) and the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) was determined before and after a hemodialysis (HD), in 61 patients suffering from chronic renal failure (CRF). Before and after the same HD the value of the following parameters were determined: Na; K; Cl; Urea; Creatinine, Ca; P and hematocrit. We found the following values: initial FEV1 91.68%, final FEV1 100.35%, (P less than 0.001); initial FVC 87.4%, final FVC 95.87% (P less than 0.001). The 61 patients were separated in two sub-groups. In the first the FEV1 variation less than or equal to 8%, while in the second it was greater than 8%. The mean variation of the other parameters was determined in both sub-group. No significant difference was found between them. On the other hand a significant correlation was found (r = 0.06, P less than 0.03) between the improvement of pulmonary function and the ponderal loss. The correction of the hydrosaline overload seems to be an important factor in the reported spirometric improvement.