Left ventricular hypertrophy in children and adolescents before and after kidney transplantation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with a premature death in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We studied its change over time, related to a successful kidney transplantation (KTx) and assessed whether clinical variables were associated with the left ventricular mass index (LVMI). METHODS: We obtained the records of all children and adolescents, who were followed-up at the tertiary nephrology centre for children at the Children’s University Hospital in Kosice, Slovakia, during 2008–2014, had completed echocardiographic studies while on chronic dialysis and had undergone a successful KTx, n=25. We assessed the longitudinally recorded left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and the presence/absence of LVH, and risk factors for LVH. RESULTS: The average prevalence of LVH was 23.5 % while on dialysis, and 29.4 % after KTx (p=0.06). Pre-post changes per patient were relatively big. Uncontrolled systolic hypertension was signifi cantly related to LVMI (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: LVH is common after paediatric KTx and the reversibility of already present LVH seems to be rather problematic. Signifi cant changes of LVMI on the individual level suggest that modifi cation is feasible with a thorough control of (systolic) hypertension and of the other risk factors (Tab. 3, Fig. 1, Ref. 50). Text in PDF www.elis.sk