Changes in regulators of circulation in patients undergoing continuous pump-driven veno-venous hemofiltration

Continuous pump-driven veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) has become an established method for treatment of acute renal failure (ARF). Since severe disturbances of (micro-) circulation are intimately involved in the bad outcome of these patients, the profile of endocrinological regulators of circulation was prospectively and serially measured in patients undergoing pump-driven CVVH (n = 15). 15 patients with similar APACHE II score, but without ARF and without CVVH were also studied. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), vasopressin, renin, and catecholamine (epinephrine, norepinephrine) plasma levels were measured before start of CVVH (= "baseline") (in the non-CVVH patients: admission to intensive care unit) and during the next 5 days. Various hemodynamic parameters were additionally monitored. MAP, HR, PAP, CI, and right ventricular hemodynamics (RVEF, RVEDV, RVESV) remained almost unchanged in the CVVH patients and were without differences to the non-CVVH group within the entire investigation period. PCWP and RAP were higher in the CVVH patients already at baseline (RAP, 17.8 +/- 4.0 mmHg; PCWP, 22.1 +/- 4.5 mmHg) (p < .02) and remained elevated in the further course of the investigation. Renin plasma level was higher already at baseline in the CVVH patients (907 +/- 184 pg/ml) (p < .05) and further increased during CVVH (to 1453 +/- 186 pg/mL). Vasopressin increased only in the CVVH group (from 3.80 +/- .66 to 11.85 +/- 1.05 pg/mL) (p < .01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)