Relationships among pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, dry weight and natriuretic peptide in patients undergoing hemodialysis: a three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography study.

Background: Although the evaluation of fluid status in hemodialysis (HD) patients is useful, relationship among pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), dry body weight (DW) and natriuretic peptide has not been elucidated. In addition, there has been no objective marker for instantaneously monitoring hemodynamic improvement in response to HD. We previously reported that PCWP and time constant of left ventricular pressure decline (Tau) can be noninvasively estimated (ePCWP and eTau) by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE).

Changes in QTc interval in long-term hemodialysis patients.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases, including sudden cardiac death (SCD), are the leading cause of death in hemodialysis (HD) patients. A prolonged QT interval on the electrocardiogram (ECG) is a risk factor for SCD in HD patients. This study investigated whether the heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval becomes prolonged along with dialysis vintage.

The impact of pre-dialytic endurance training on nutritional status and quality of life in stable hemodialysis patients (Sawada study).

Background: Protein-energy malnutrition and decreased quality of life (QOL) are common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Although several studies have proved that regular exercise has beneficial effects, few control studies have shown the effects of exercise training on the nutritional status and QOL in HD patients.

Methods: Fifty-five HD patients were recruited, and 22 of them were trained to exercise on an ergometer prior to dialysis three times a week for one year.