CLINICAL APPLICATION OF PUSH/PULL HDF

Abstract

In the present study, it has been confirmed that some symptoms which fail to disappear with hemodialysis are, in fact, reduced or disappear by push/pull HDF: restless legs syndrome, irritability, sleeplessness and pruritus. Using 41 patients with more than one of the above complications, we changed the form of treatment from hemodialysis to push/pull HDF, and within 2 months there was an obvious reduction in the complications in most of the patients. Seven of 10 patients with restless legs syndrome, for example, and 14 of 16 patients with feelings irritation, showed distinct improvement. Also, all 10 patients complaining of insomnia completely recovered from the problem after switching to push/pull HDF, and 7 of 24 patients suffering from pruritus also showed improvement. However, there were no significant differences in the pre-dialysis values of BUN, plasma creatinine and plasma electrolyte with either method of therapy.