Hemodynamic monitoring during hemodialysis

Intradialytic monitoring of hemodynamic parameters is an active area of research; future developments in this field will decrease intradialytic morbidity and the mortality of end-stage renal disease patients treated by hemodialysis. Recent investigations have been assisted by the development of devices that can continuously and noninvasively measure hematocrit and plasma protein concentration during the treatment. Intradialytic morbidity, fluid overload, and hypertension in chronic hemodialysis patients have been shown to be associated with either large or small intradialytic decreases in blood or plasma volume that can be routinely measured by these devices. The use of intradialytic changes in blood volume as a feedback control parameter to vary the ultrafiltration rate and dialysate sodium concentration, so called profiling, is now possible, but further research in this area is necessary to show how to optimize the control algorithms. Other, more preliminary studies suggest that monitoring of central blood volume, extracellular volume, and cardiac output during hemodialysis may permit improved hemodynamic stability during treatment and better control of blood pressure. Although optimal application of these techniques and devices remains to be shown, their routine use during maintenance hemodialysis therapy will likely be the standard of care in the near future. (C) 1999 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.