Intra- and post-dialytic changes of haemoglobin concentrations in non-anaemic haemodialysis patients

Background. Non-anaemic haemodialysis (HD) patients are potentially more prone to the adverse effects of ultrafiltration-induced haemoconcentration. No study, however, has assessed the effects of dialytic session on haemoglobin (Hb) levels in these patients. Methods. The levels of Hb and total protein before, at the end (T0) and up to 120 min (T120) after the third HD session of the week were compared in non-anaemic (Hb >13 g/dl, n = 14, NOR) and anaemic (Hb = 11–12 g/dl, n = 18, LOW) HD patients. Results. The intradialytic weight loss was similar in the two groups (4.0 ± 0.9 and 4.1 ± 0.9% body weight). During the treatment, Hb levels increased to the same extent in both groups (from 14.4 ± 1.2 to 16.3 ± 1.9 g/dl in NOR, and from 11.4 ± 0.8 to 12.7 ± 0.9 g/dl in LOW) in the presence, presumably, of a smaller plasma volume in NOR, whereas the increment of total protein was greater in NOR (from 7.1 ± 0.2 to 9.6 ± 0.5 g/dl) than in LOW (from 7.3 ± 0.6 to 8.7 ± 0.8 g/dl) (P