[Effect of hemodialysis on the erythrocyte sodium, potassium adenosine triphosphatase activity in children with chronic renal failure].

A study was made of the activity of Na, K-ATPase of red blood cells in children with chronic renal failure (CRF) before and after the treatment with hemodialysis. It has been discovered that in CRF children, the activity of Na, K-ATPase was significantly reduced as compared to that in the controls. Meanwhile after the dialysis therapy it rose, which may be due to the improvement of the work of Na, K-ATPase in the red blood cell membrane. It is suggested that the decline of the activity of Na, K-ATPase in CRF patients is likely to be related to the inhibition of the enzyme by digoxin-like factor. Based on an analysis of the data obtained it is recommended that, Na, K-ATPase be used as an effective criterion for estimation of the treatment adequacy or delineation of indications for hemodialysis in children suffering from CRF.