Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular functions in nondiabetic normotensive hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Purpose: Heart is affected structurally and functionally in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the data available about adverse effects of ESRD on right ventricle (RV) is scarce. We aimed to evaluate echocardiographic parameters of RV in nondiabetic, normotensive patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Methods: A total of 45 (24 women; mean age 52.4 ± 12.4 years) consecutive nondiabetic, normotensive patients with ESRD undergoing HD and 39 healthy age and sex-matched control subjects (22 women; mean age 50.3 ± 6.6 years) were enrolled in the study. M-mode and two dimensional images, color, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler, and tissue Doppler measurements were acquired from all subjects. Echocardiographic evaluation was performed in the days between HD dates of the patients. Results: RV fractional area change, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, tricuspid E velocity, E/A ratio, tricuspid annular E′ velocity, and E′/A′ ratio were lower in patients than controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p = 0.007, p = 0.005, p < 0.001, and p = 0.034, respectively). However, RV diastolic area, RV myocardial performance index, E/E′ ratio, and mean and systolic pulmonary artery pressure were higher in patients than controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.007, p = 0.005, p < 0.001, p = 0.006, respectively). Conclusions: RV systolic and diastolic functions of nondiabetic, normotensive HD patients are deteriorated as compared to healthy controls.