Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN
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J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. · Dec 1999
Hemodynamic patterns and spectral analysis of heart rate variability during dialysis hypotension.
Intradialytic hypotension, a major source of morbidity during hemodialysis and ultrafiltration, is often accompanied by paradoxical bradycardia. Relatively little is known about the sequential changes in autonomic nervous system activity up to and during the hypotensive episode. Continuous, beat-to-beat measurements of BP and heart rate were made during hemodialysis in patients prone (n = 8) and not prone (n = 11) to develop intradialytic hypotension. ⋯ The LF component of HRV fell from 62.8 +/- 4.6 nu directly before to 40.0 +/- 3.7 nu (P < 0.05) during hypotension, whereas the HF component increased from 37.9 +/- 4.7 to 60.3 +/- 3.7 nu (P < 0.05). These findings agree with activation of the cardiodepressor reflex, involving decreased sympathetic and increased parasympathetic nervous system activity, respectively. These findings indicate that activation of the sympatho-inhibitory cardiodepressor reflex (Bezold-Jarisch reflex), which is a physiologic response to a critical reduction in intravascular volume and cardiac filling, is the cause of sudden intradialytic hypotension.