Hemodialysis does not impair ventricular functions over 2 years

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Nephrology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• End-stage renal disease (ESRD) significantly impacts cardiovascular health.
• Hemodialysis (HD) is a crucial treatment for ESRD, but its long-term cardiac effects remain incompletely understood.
• The myocardium is susceptible to hemodynamic, metabolic, and neuro-humoral changes during HD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term impact of hemodialysis on left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) systolic and diastolic functions in ESRD patients.
• To compare cardiac function parameters before and after extended HD treatment using echocardiography.

Main Methods:

• Prospective echocardiographic evaluation of 22 newly diagnosed ESRD patients.
• Baseline assessment before arteriovenous fistula creation for HD.
• Follow-up assessment after a mean of 24.22 months of HD treatment.
• Comparison of LV and RV systolic and diastolic function parameters.

Main Results:

• Isovolumic relaxation time significantly decreased post-HD.
• No significant changes observed in peak early/late diastolic mitral inflow velocities (E, A), E/A ratio, or deceleration time.
• Pulmonary vein peak systolic velocity and its ratio to diastolic velocity were significantly lower after HD.
• LV systolic function, diameters, mass index, left atrium size, and RV diastolic function remained statistically unchanged.

Conclusions:

• Long-term hemodialysis treatment demonstrated insignificant effects on overall LV and RV function in ESRD patients.
• Potential contributing factors include managed blood pressure, anemia treatment, and prevention of hypervolemia during HD.
• Echocardiography indicates preserved ventricular function despite the challenges of ESRD and HD therapy.