Chronic hemofiltration treatment

Fourteen patients (six males and eight females) have been treated with chronic hemofiltration three times weekly for three to 27 months with the post-dilution technique. All patients had previously been on regular dialysis treatment. Patients were selected for hemofiltration because of dialysis-resistent hypertension (eight), symptoms of dialysis discomfort (five), hypertriglyceridemia (five) and polyneuropathy (seven). Hypertension improved in six of eight patients, symptoms of dialysis discomfort markedly diminished in all five patients, hypertriglyceridemia did not change consistently, polyneuropathy improved in six of seven patients. Balance studies of Na, Ca and Mg revealed a positive correlation to fluid balance. Phosphate, BUN, creatinine and uric acid increased. Loss of amino acids and protein is negligible. Hormone studies showed a decrease of T3, T4 and TSH though the pituitary-thyroid axis is intact, possibly indicating a decreased TRH activity. Vitamin D remained unchanged, PTH levels increased, possibly related to a diminished excretion of phosphate and diminished intake of calcium, respectively, during hemofiltration treatment as compared to hemodialysis.