Daily hemofiltration in severe heart failure.

Abstract

Heart failure of class IV NYHA has a very severe prognosis. Its most frequent electrolytic alterations are hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesemia which can cause serious arrhythmias and sudden death. The regulation of the electrolytic equilibrium by means of pharmacological therapy becomes impossible in patients with severe heart failure resistant to strong doses of diuretics in the oligo-anuric phase. This study focused on the use of daily hemofiltration in a group of patients suffering from cardiac insufficiency of class IV NYHA. The results have been evaluated over 1 year.