EFFECTS OF HEMODIALYSIS SESSION ON PLASMA BETA-ENDORPHIN, ACTH AND CORTISOL IN PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE RENAL-DISEASE

The effect of a regular haemodialysis session on the plasma concentrat ions of beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol was investigated in 14 patie nts with end-stage renal disease and 20 healthy controls. Blood for an alysis of beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol was sampled before and imm ediately after haemodialysis. In four patients the dialysate was studi ed for presence of these hormones, but showed no specific activity. Th e predialysis beta-endorphin, ACTH, and cortisol levels did not differ significantly from the control values. The postdialysis levels were s ignificantly higher than the predialysis. Significant linear correlati on was found between plasma ACTH and beta-endorphin values in the post dialysis samples. The similarity of plasma beta-endorphin, ACTH and co rtisol levels in patients with end-stage renal disease before dialysis and in normal controls indicated integrity of the hypothalamic pituit ary-adrenal axis. The significantly increased levels after the dialysi s session and the significant correlation between postdialysis plasma beta-endorphin and ACTH suggest that the haemodialysis session was a s tressful event.