Augmentation of the amplitude of electrocardiographic QRS complexes immediately after hemodialysis: a study of 26 hemodialysis sessions of a single patient, aided by measurements of resistance, reactance, and impedance.

An increase in the amplitude of electrocardiogram QRS complexes ( upward arrow QRS) with hemodialysis (HD) has been invariably documented, but the relationship with weight loss has varied, and other parameters (ie, hemoglobin, body electrical properties), which could be determinants of upward arrow QRS, have not all been evaluated in the same patients. We investigated a patient immediately before and after 26 sessions of HD with measurements of a host of variables. Statistically significant correlations were found only between weight loss and net fluid removed (r =.72, P =.0005), and percentage change in the sums of QRS complexes of all 12-electrocardiogram leads and weight lost during HD (r =.41, P =.038). HD imparts a reproducible upward arrow QRS, but variation in all the other intercorrelations can be attributed to the complexity of the procedure and its variable impact on many body parameters.