[Influence of acute respiratory failure on renal function in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and...

Renal function was assessed in 89 patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic cor pulmonale, 62 of them had respiratory failure, 18 health aged served as control. The results showed that the creatinine clearance and the free water clearance were decreased in 82.3% and 69.5% of patients with respiratory failure respectively. The renal function was impaired in case of hypoxia, PaO2 less than or equal to 6.0 kPa (45 mmHg), mean 5.33 kPa (40 mmHg). Hypercapnia was one of the most important factors that effected the renal function. There was a clinical threshold which effected the renal function, i.e. PaCO2 equals more than 8.67 kPa (65 mmHg). Renal function was greatly impaired if hypercapnia and hypoxia exist at the same time. The impairment of renal function was further marked when right heart failure and acidosis developed. The causes and effects of the abnormality of renal function were preliminarily discussed.