Physiologic Approach to Dialysis-Induced Hypoxemia

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of membrane-related complement activation and dialysate composition on dialysis-associated hypoxemia. Seven chronic hemodialysis patients were hemodialyzed 3 times sequentially with the following three combinations; Cuprophan membrane with acetate dialysate, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) membrane with acetate dialysate, and PMMA membrane with bicarbonate dialysate. During dialysis with acetate dialysate, the pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLco) at 30 min after the start of dialysis was decreased to 88% (p < 0.01) of the predialysis value with PMMA and to 79% (p < 0.01) with Cuprophan, and the degree of DLco on PMMA membrane was different from that on Cuprophan (p < 0.0l). The degree of leukopenia with PMMA was less than that with Cuprophan. However, the fall in DLco did not alter the alveolar-arterial O₂ tension gradient. Although the changes in transcutaneous PO₂ (tcPO₂) were not constant in all three combinations, a distinct fall in tcPO₂ was observed in the first half of dialysis with acetate dialysate. During dialysis with acetate dialysate but not with bicarbonate, the extracorporeal dialyzer removed an average of 60 ml/min of CO₂, and the respiratory quotient dropped from a mean predialysis value of 0.86 to 0.59 (p < 0.001). The arterial CO₂ tension was not significantly changed throughout dialysis, but the alveolar ventilation decreased significantly in proportion to the fall in carbon dioxide output. The arterial oxygen tension fell from a control level of 91 ± 6 to 77 ± 8 mm Hg (p < 0.01) in 30 min. It is concluded that, in spite of a fall in DLco, dialysis-induced hypoxemia in this group of patients on maintenance dialysis is caused by CO₂ loss via the dialyzer, resulting in reflex hypoventilation.