title: Serial measurement of vital capacity in patients on chronic haemodialysis.
abstract: Serial measurements of vital capacity (VC) were performed on nine patients on chronic haemodialysis. In six patients the VC remained stable, they were all adequately dialysed and working full-time. Reduction of dialysis time in one of these patients brought about a gradual onset of left heart failure which was preceeded by a decline of VC. In the three remaining patients a decrease of VC preceeded the onset of heart failure, and a rise of VC values signified improvement of cardiac performance. Serial recordings of VC are recommended as a useful objective guide to evaluation and treatment of patients on haemodialysis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008450:Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014797:Vital Capacity