Cardiac Arrhythmias in Chronic Renal Failure?

Abstract

Patients (25) undergoing regular hemodialysis for chronic renal failure underwent Holter ECG monitoring for a continuous 48 h period covering dialysis and the intermediate period of everyday activity at home. A low dialysate K concentration (1.7 mEq/l) was used. Clinically significant arrhythmias (> 100 ventricular extrasystoles/24 h) were found in only 1 patient and there were no complex ventricular arrhythmias. Benign atrial arrhythmias occurred in 22 patients (88%). Hemodialysis had no influence on type or frequency of arrhythmias.