EXERCISE TOLERANCE IN PATIENTS ON CHRONIC-HEMODIALYSIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 16  (1) , 17-21
Abstract
Twenty-two patients on chronic hemodialysis were tested on a bicycle ergometer to determine their near-maximal physical work capacity. The patients had low physical work capacity that averaged 51.6 .+-. 3.8 (SE)% predialysis and 50.3 .+-. 3.7% postdialysis, compared with the physical work capacity of healthy control subjects. The exercise was stopped when patients complained of muscular fatigue, and the work load at this point was considered their subjective maximal work capacity. At this stage the patients had high blood lactic acid levels and an increased double product (systolic blood pressure .times. heart rate), the latter indicating a high stage of cardiac output. The O2 consumption and O2 pulse were similar to those obtained from control individuals at the same work load. Limited physical work capacity of chronic hemodialysis patients is evidently due to early muscular fatigue. This phenomenon is associated with the rapid onset of anaerobic metabolism and may be caused by limited maximal O2 uptake.

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