[The pathophysiology of hemodialysis treatment]

Hemodialysis therapy is the most commonly used renal replacement therapy despite the development of alternative detoxification procedures. As in any therapy hemodialysis treatment shows side effects. These regularly appearing intradialytic complications are essentially responsible for the morbidity of the dialysis patient. Studies were undertaken to clarify the pathomechanisms of the dialysis hypoxemia and dialysis hypotonia. Intradialytic variations of carbohydrate and protein metabolism and of the cellular blood components were analyzed. The exact knowledge of the pathomechanisms of these side-effects should lead to technical improvement in dialysate composition. With this knowledge a more effective treatment and a better prophylaxis of these intradialytic side effects should be possible.