Hemodynamics in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients Undergoing Isolated Ultrafiltration Compared to Conventional Hemodialysis

Patients treated with hemodialysis (HD) bear increased risk of cardiovascular events, which results in high morbidity and mortality among this cohort of patients. Intradialytic hypotension (IDH), which is an independent risk factor for mortality, occurs in up to 20% of hemodialysis session and may lead to myocardial stunning and cerebral ischemia resulting in increased white matter lesions, gastrointestinal ischemia and shunt vessel thrombosis. Due to the deleterious effects of IDH during HD, preventive measurements such as limiting interdialytic weight gain are recommended, but frequently fluid and salt restriction are not adhered to, thus increasing dialysis time or frequency of treatments is a common strategy in those patients.