A patient with chronic renal failure who is undergoing hemodialysis is admitted. After the session, the patient is most likely to experience which of the following?

• A. Weight loss
• B. Hematuria
• C. Increased urine output
• D. Increased blood pressure

Answer: (A)

During hemodialysis, excess fluid is removed from the blood (ultrafiltration) and waste products are cleared. This fluid removal translates into a lower weight after the session, so post-dialysis weight loss is a common and expected finding. In end-stage renal disease, the kidneys can’t regulate fluid well, leading to fluid accumulation; dialysis helps restore balance by eliminating that fluid, which shows up as a decrease in weight after treatment. Hematuria isn’t a typical post-dialysis change and chronic renal failure usually means little or no urine output, so increased urine production isn’t expected. Additionally, removing fluid often lowers blood pressure rather than increases it. So, the most likely post-dialysis finding is weight loss due to ultrafiltration.