The effect of on-line hemodiafiltration on heart rate variability in end-stage renal disease

Background The autonomic nervous system plays a central role in the maintenance of hemodynamic stability. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction may result in serious complications, such as sudden cardiac death. Heart rate variability (HRV) is significantly reduced in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of on-line hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) on the autonomic nervous system in chronic HD patients.