Bleeding in renal failure: altered platelet function in chronic uraemia only partially corrected by haemodialysis

Bleeding time, blood loss and platelet retention by glass beads, measured by standardized techniques, were significantly altered in a group of 30 non-thrombocytopenic patients with chronic renal failure undergoing maintenance haemodialysis. Bleeding time or blood loss did not correlate with platelet retention either before or after haemodialysis. No correlation could be found between the above tests and a number of biochemical parameters characterizing the uraemic condition. Haemodialysis only partially corrected the abnormal bleeding time, blood loss and platelet retention. These tests were still significantly different after haemodialysis from those of 30 normal subjects. It is suggested that some non-dialyzable material could play an important role in the aetiology of uraemic bleeding.