Abstract
Hemodialysis (HD) for chronic renal failure (CRF) is usually begun with frequent and brief treatment, administered 2 or 3 times a week. We tried once a week HD in 7 patients whose urine volume was still over 1, 000ml daily, to determine whether the method was useful, considering the duration of the method, change in the slope of the regressin line of reciprocal serum creatinine concentration (1/SCr), and change in the urine volume. Mitch et al. reported that the 1/SCr declined linearly with time in most CRF patients, and was useful for predicting when dialysis was required, or for determining the effects of therapy. We examined the same problem in our patients with the following results:
1. Reciprocal serum creatinin concentration. 1) 1/SCr declined linearly with time in 22 of 50 CRF patients (44%), and about 60% showed a linear regression in the terminal stages of CRF. 2) The effects of therapy is an important factor to prevent linear regression of the 1/SCr. 2. Once-a-week hemodialysis. 1) In 5 of 7 patients, once-a-week HD was continued for more than a year. The longest duration was 23 months. 2) The slope of the 1/SCr regression line decreased after once-a-week HD, in 5 of 7 patients. 3) The period from the time when serum creatinin 10mg/dl to the beginning of 2 or 3 times a week HD was significantly longer than in the once a week HD group. 4) The volume decreased more slowly in the once-a-week HD group. 5) Once-a-week HD may be tried in patients whose urine volume is still maintained and is in relatively good control.
