The Impact of Exercising During Haemodialysis on Blood Pressure, Markers of Cardiac Injury and Systemic Inflammation - Preliminary Results of a Pilot Study
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dysfunction. Little is known about the acute effects of exercise during haemodialysis. Exercise
has numerous health benefits but in other populations has a profound impact upon blood
pressure, inflammation and immune function; therefore having the potential to exacerbate
cardiovascular and immune dysfunction in this vulnerable population. Methods: Fifteen
patients took part in a randomised-crossover study investigating the effect of a 30-min
bout of exercise during haemodialysis compared to resting haemodialysis. We assessed
blood pressure, plasma markers of cardiac injury and systemic inflammation and neutrophil
degranulation. Results: Exercise increased blood pressure immediately post-exercise; however,
1 hour after exercise blood pressure was lower than resting levels (106±22 vs. 117±25 mm
Hg). No differences in h-FABP, cTnI, myoglobin or CKMB were observed between trial arms.
Exercise did not alter circulating concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α or IL-1ra nor clearly suppress
neutrophil function. Conclusions: This study demonstrates fluctuations in blood pressure
during haemodialysis in response to exercise. However, since the fall in blood pressure
occurred without evidence of cardiac injury, we regard it as a normal response to exercise
superimposed onto the haemodynamic response to haemodialysis. Importantly, exercise did
not exacerbate systemic inflammation or immune dysfunction; intradialytic exercise was well
tolerated