Blood Volume Control by Biofeedback and Dialysis-Induced Symptomatology

In earlier studies, a reduction in intradialytic procedures was observed in patients with severe intradialytic hypotension symptomatology by the use of blood volume controlled biofeedback systems. However, few data are present on the use of biofeedback-controlled treatments in patients experiencing minor intradialytic symptoms. In the present study, 157 standard and 158 biofeedback-controlled treatments were compared during a 2-month period in 16 hemodialysis patients. Both the percentage of hypotensive episodes (6.3 +/- 11.3 vs. 15.8 +/- 18.3%; p < 0.05) as well as other intradialytic symptoms (cramps, nausea, headache, abdominal pain) (11.0 +/- 12.8 vs. 18.1 +/- 16.9%; p < 0.05) were significantly less during biofeedback-controlled treatments compared to standard dialysis treatments, despite a similar decline in relative blood volume (8.8 +/- 3.5 vs. 8.3 +/- 3.1%; p = n.s.). Interdialytic weight gain and intradialytic rise in plasma sodium levels were comparable. Concluding, in this short-term preliminary study, blood volume controlled biofeedback improved dialysis tolerance also in patients with minor intradialytic symptomatology.