Failure of naloxone in reversal hemodialysis-induced hypotension.

In 5 uremic patients the role of opioid peptides in dialysis-induced hypotension was investigated through the administration of naloxone. An intravenous bolus injection of 1 mg of naloxone was administered immediately before starting a routine hemodialysis session and was repeated when the patients' systolic arterial pressure sank below 90 mm Hg. In our patients, naloxone had no effect on the resting arterial pressure or on dialysis-induced hypotension.