| Theme |
Dialysis Therapy and Respiratory Systems |
| Title |
Pulmonary dysfunction in hemodialysis patients |
| Author |
Takashi Shimizu |
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Musashino Red Cross Hospital |
| Author |
Yuichiro Fukutome |
Department of Internal Medicine, Yokosuka Kyousai Hospital |
| Author |
Hirotaro Miura |
Department of Internal Medicine, Yokosuka Kyousai Hospital |
| Author |
Takuo Sasaoka |
Department of Internal Medicine, Yokosuka Kyousai Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
It is said that patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) because of chronic renal failure have respiratory complications tract. Dysfunctions of ventilation and pulmonary diffusing capacity has been reported. Restrictive and obstructive ventilatory disturbances have also been reported to date. Patients with bronchial asthma often have asthma attacks during HD. We examine serum concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), comparing HD patients with and without bronchial asthma. ECP is a granule of eosinophils, and is disseminated by degranulation. Serum ECP is associated with airway inflammation and increased responsiveness of the tracheobraonchial tree. Serum ECP of HD patients without asthma decreased 15 minutes after the start of HD. Otherwise, that of HD patients with asthma increased. Though serum ECP of the two groups did not differ before HD, it was significantly elevated in patients with asthma during HD. Serum ECP is thought to be one of the risk factors for inducting an asthma attack during HD. |