@article{Soveri_Kals_2015, title={Low dialysate potassium and central arterial pressure waveform}, volume={120}, url={https://ujms.net/index.php/ujms/article/view/5864}, DOI={10.3109/03009734.2015.1037031}, abstractNote={<p>Background. Cardiovascular mortality is high in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Early arterial pressure wave reflections predict mortality inHDpatients, andHDacutely improves the central pressure waveform. Potassium (K) plays a crucial role in cardiac electrophysiology, and patients with end-stage kidney disease depend on HD for neutral K balance. We aimed to study the impact of dialysate K concentrations on central arterial pressure waveform.</p> <p>Methods. Thirty-three chronic HD patients were studied before and after a HD session, and the prescribed dialysate K concentration was recorded. In a subset of 23 patients without arrhythmias, pulse wave analysis was performed on radial arteries. Nine patients had dialysate K set to 1 mmol/L (group 1), and 14 patients had K set to 2 or 3 mmol/L (group 2). Augmentation index (AIx), defined as difference between the second and first systolic peak divided by central pulse pressure, was used as a measure of arterial stiffness.</p> <p>Results. HD reduced the AIx in group 1 only (p = 0.0005). Likewise, central systolic pressure was reduced in group 1 only (p = 0.006). The relative reduction of AIx post-HD was significantly higher in group 1 compared with group 2 (p &lt; 0.0001). The association between low dialysate K and AIx reduction remained statistically significant after adjustment for variables including the change in central and peripheral systolic pressure and mean arterial pressure.</p> <p>Conclusion. Low dialysate K is strongly and independently associated with the acute improvement of AIx.</p&gt;}, number={3}, journal={Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences}, author={Soveri Inga and Kals Jaak}, year={2015}, month={May} }