Blood pressure assessment in haemodialysis patients: comparison between pre-dialysis blood pressure and ambulatory blood pressure measurement.

Aim: Hypertension is common in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Determining the most appropriate method of blood pressure (BP) measurement, representative of target organ damage, is still an issue. BP variations between pre- and post-HD treatment, or between on-dialysis day and off-dialysis day, are common.

Association between brain natriuretic peptide and extracellular water in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone released by the left ventricle (LV) as a consequence of pressure or volume load. BNP increases in left ventricle hypertrophy (LVH), LV dysfunction, and it can also predict cardiovascular mortality in the general population as well as those undergoing hemodialysis (HD). We investigated the association between BNP and volume load in HD patients.

Association between extracellular water, left ventricular mass and hypertension in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are present in the majority of patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD). These two pathologies persist after dialysis onset, and pharmacological therapy is often required for adequate control of blood pressure (BP). Although fluid overload is a determinant of hypertension, clinical assessment of this parameter remains difficult and unsatisfactory.