Assessment of impact of hemodialysis on hematological parameters among patients with chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease is a condition in which the kidney fails to function adequately. End-stage renal disease is the terminal stage of chronic renal failure where there is an irreversible progressive deterioration in renal function which can be substituted by hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), or renal transplantation. Both types of dialysis can cause side effects on the blood components. The objectives of this study was to find the changes in the complete blood counts, red blood cell indices, and peripheral blood smear in post hemodialysis patients and to compare the changes with respect to pre-dialysis status. We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study for a period of 3 years and a total of 120 patients undergoing dialysis. Blood samples were collected before and within 2 h post dialysis; complete hemogram and peripheral smear examination results were recorded and compared by Student t test. There was moderate degree of anemia in both pre- and post dialysis patients, and also, there was an increase in the severity of anemia after hemodialysis in many patients. The type of anemia was normocytic normochromic. There was a statistically significant decrease in total leukocyte count and platelet count (p < 0.05). Significant variations were also noted in differential count with a decrease in neutrophil along with monocyte count and an increase in lymphocyte as well as eosinophil count. The results of this study showed that many hematological parameters measured in post dialysis patients were either increased or decreased in comparison with pre-dialysis values. The present study might help clinicians to initiate precautions before and after dialysis procedures and thereby reduce anemia, thrombosis, hemorrhage, and related complications.