Introduction and Aims: Hypertension in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients ( pts) is volume dependent on up to 80% of cases. Volume assessment by bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) could be more accurate and better target for the treatment then just clinically assessed dry weight (DW). The studies have shown that the relative overhydration (ROH) of HD pts above 15% of their total body extracellular water (ECW), poses increased mortality risk in this population. The concept of the Active Fluid Management (AFM) has been developed and proposed for better control of ECW and less CV complications. This randomized, prospective, blinded, single-center study was aimed to evaluate the impact of active fluid management (AFM) assessed by BIS on hypertension control in HD pts during nine-month period. Methods: Study included 59 BIS naive HD pts. BIS was performed by Body Composition Monitor (BCM). In the 1. (active) group according with AFM concept, this measurement has been done every time when their average weekly overhydration (AWOH) exceeded 15% of their normal extracellular volume (ECW) and their DW was time adjusted according to the finding along with clinical judgment. In the 2. (control) group, BIS has been performed monthly and its results did not influence the clinical assessment of their DW.We registered the average blood pressure of 6 successive dialysis measurements before and after dialysis sessions, as well as the number of antihypertensive (AHT) drugs, their equivalent dose (ED) units and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NTpro-BNP) at the start and after 9 months.

Background and Aims Relative hypervolemia or overhydration (ROH) above 15% of the normally hydrated body extracellular volume (ECV), assessed by bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), puts chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients at an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) incidents and death, as numerous studies have shown. It has also been reported that the reduction of ROH to the value below 15% of ECV can positively affect hypertension and some aspects of the left ventricle (LV) function and morphology. The concept of Active Fluid Management (AFM) has been developed and it hypothesized that maintaining average (weekly) predialysis overhydration (AWOH) below 15% of ECV will preserve heart function and structure and thus lead to fewer CV complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of AFM concept guided by BIS on cardiac morphology, mechanics and function in chronic HD patients. Methods Randomized prospective single-center study lasted 9 months and included BIS naive HD patients from the Dialysis unit of Zvezdara University Medical Center in Belgrade with HD vintage greater of 3 months. BIS was performed by Body Composition Monitor (BCM). In accordance with the AFM concept, BIS was applied to patients in the Active group every time their average weekly ROH (AWOH) exceeded 15% of their normal ECV and their dry weight (DW) was time-adjusted according to the findings along with clinical assessment. In the Control group, patients were treated in accordance with the standard clinical practice. Cardiac structural and functional characteristics were obtained at the beginning and the end of the study by using 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and spackle tracking modality. Cardiac markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, Troponin T and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide) were measured at the same time. Results The study included 42 patients (25 M) in the Active group and 41 patients (23 M) in the Control group. Patients from both groups were of similar age (56.1 ± 11.5 vs. 57.5 ± 13.2 years, p = 0.6) and HD vintage (79.9 ± 59.2 months vs. 95.3 ± 80.0 months, p = 0.6). 73 patients completed the 9 months study, 38 in the Active group and 35 in Control group. Within the Active group, recommended AWOH lower than 15% ECV has 55% at start and 76% of patients at the end of study (p< 0.01). In parallel, there were improvements in their LV ejection fraction (LVEF), from 41.3 ± 9.3% to 44.0 ± 8.8% (p < 0.01), LV end systolic volume index, from 40.2 ± 12.5 to 35.8 ± 13.5 ml/m2 (p < 0.05), LV mass indexed at height at 2.7 (LVMI2.7) from 62.8 ± 19.7 g / m2.7 to 57.7 ± 16.9 g/m2.7 (p <0.01) and Global radial strain (GRS) - from 18.6 ± 10.2% to 21.8 ± 12.2% (p <0.05). In the Control group, there were signs of LV diastolic function worsening at the end of the study: E/A ratio increased from 1.0 ± 0.3 to 1.2 ± 0.6 (p < 0.01), as well as E/e’ lateral ratio from 10.6 ± 5.0 to 11.1 ±4.1 (p <0.01) and right ventricle systolic pressure (RVSP) from 34.8 ± 10.2 mmHg to 38.8 ± 8.3 mmHg (p <0.05). This worsening of LV diastolic function in the Control group correlated with the increased level of one of the cardiac markers, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) - from 5810.0 (3339.0-15627.0) pg/ml to 8024.0 (4433.0-17467.0) pg/ml (p <0.04). Conclusion Active Fluid Management leads to the improvement of left ventricle systolic function and prevents worsening of diastolic function in the observed hemodialysis patients. This concept implemented could favourably affect the clinical course of hemodialysis patients in daily clinical practice.

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Background/Aim. Overhydration (OH) and shortcomings of clinical assessment of so called ?dry weight? in hemodialysis (HD) patients are well known risk factors for high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this population. The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to investigate possible benefits of the active fluid management (AFM) guided by bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) on cardiac morphology, mechanics and function in chronic hemodialysis patients. Methods. The study lasted 9 months and 83 BIS naive patients were enrolled. Cardiac structural and functional characteristics were obtained using two dimensional Doppler echocardiography and global strains by speckle tracking modality. In addition, cardiac markers were measured. Results. Seventy three patients completed the study (38 in the active ? AFM group and 35 in the control group). At the end of the study, the main structural change in the active group of patients was reduction of left ventricular mass index (from 62.81 ? 19.74 g/m2.7 to 57.74 ? 16.87g/m2..7; p = 0.007), while main functional improvements in this group were better left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; from 41.27 ? 9.26% to 43.95 ? 8.84%; p = 0.006) and fractional shortening (FS; 27.86 ? 5.94% to 29.86 ? 5.83%; p = 0.056) in accordance with improvement of radial left ventricular (LV) mechanics detected by higher global radial strain (GRS) (18.56 ? 10.24% to 21.79 ? 12.16%; p = 0.014). The diastolic function of patients in the control group worsened significantly, assessed as ratio of Doppler velocity of early diastolic filling of left ventricle ? E, and average velocity of tissue Doppler measured at lateral part of the mitral annulus (e? lateral; E/e? lateral ratio 10.59 ? 5.00 to 11.12 ? 4.06; p = 0.036) and consecutively the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) estimated indirectly by echocardiography: from 34.84 ? 10.18 mmHg to 38.76 ? 8.34 mmHg; p = 0.028. These functional changes were in correlation with significantly higher levels of Nterminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) in this group of patients [median and interquartile range (IQR): 5810.0 pg/mL (3339.0?15627.0 pg/mL) to 8024.0 pg/mL (4433.0?17467.0 pg/mL; p = 0.038)]. The improvement in the LV structure and function in the active group correlated with better relative overhydration (ROH) management in this group ? the proportion of ?critically? overhydrated patients decreased from 45% at the start to 24% at the end of study (p = 0.003). At the end of the study, there were 49% of post-dialysis ?critically? dehydrated patients in the control group. Proportion of anuric patients increased only in the control group (63% to 77%; p = 0.063). Conclusion. Active fluid management, guided by bioimpedance spectroscopy had positive impact on cardiac hemodynamics and mechanics in our study patients and could improve clinical decisions regarding their optimal weight and further clinical course. Further data from well designed studies are needed urgently.