ABSTRACT
The kidneys and lungs share responsibility for maintaining acid-base homeostasis, and the effects of primary disturbances in the function of one system are often compensated by the other. Many patients with renal failure have abnormal respiratory function, with most interest centring on the phenomenon of hypoxaemia during haemodialysis and on the high prevalence of disordered breathing during sleep of patients with chronic renal failure. In addition, renal disease can affect respiratory function indirectly via its complications such as fluid retention and anaemia.
