Cold Hypersensitivity and Finger Systolic Blood Pressure in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

In patients on maintenance hemodialysis the blood pressure in the fingers of the arm with arteriovenous fistula was significantly lower than in the fingers of the other arm. This is explained by the increased arterial blood flow to the arm with the fistula, giving physiological pressure reduction. Six of ten uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis complained of Raynaud's phenomenon. This was confirmed by a cold provocation test, which showed significant improvement after hemodialysis. The mechanism of Raynaud's phenomenon in these patients is assumed to be functional, but no clear explanation has been found.