title: Effects of haemodialysis on heart rate variability in chronic renal failure.
abstract: The influence of haemodialysis (HD) on the heart rate variability (HRV) was investigated in nine non-diabetic patients on maintenance haemodialysis. The R-R intervals were measured in recordings during spontaneous quiet breathing and during controlled deep breathing before and after a single HD session. The HRV was expressed as the standard deviation of the mean R-R interval in 3 min ECG recordings. Heart rate variability is the irregularity in the heart rate mainly caused by autonomic control mechanisms. The long-term HRV during quiet breathing was statistically significantly (p less than 0.05) higher after the HD than before. The HRV in the intermediate frequency range of 0.075-0.125 Hz was also significantly increased by the HD. This suggests that some metabolic agents interfering with the heart rate regulation are removed by the haemodialysis, and as a result a better function of the autonomic cardiac control is achieved in uraemic patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001146:Arrhythmia, Sinus / Q000209:etiology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D012119:Respiration