Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
08:10

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: July 20, 2022

Association between inflammatory markers and left atrial enlargement in patients on hemodialysis

Silvio Henrique Barberato1, Sérgio Gardano Elias Bucharles, Admar Moraes de Souza

  • 1Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil. silviohb@cardiol.br

Arquivos Brasileiros De Cardiologia
|March 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

In patients undergoing hemodialysis without prior cardiovascular events, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are linked to left atrial enlargement. This suggests a connection between systemic inflammation and left atrial dilation in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Inflammation Research

Background:

  • Concurrent chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are common.
  • Left atrial volume (LAV) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated in CKD-CVD patients.
  • Systemic inflammation's role in left atrial (LA) dilation in hemodialysis (HD) patients without evident CVD needs clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between systemic inflammation markers and left atrial dilation.
  • To examine relationships between CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and echocardiographic indices in HD patients.
  • To assess LA dilation in HD patients with no prior cardiovascular events.

Main Methods:

  • Observational cross-sectional study of 58 HD patients (>3 months).
  • Exclusion criteria included inflammatory diseases, hemodynamic instability, anti-inflammatory drug use, hyperparathyroidism, arrhythmias, mitral valve disease, and prior CV events.
  • Measurements included CRP, IL-6, and Doppler echocardiography; correlation coefficients were calculated.

Main Results:

  • CRP significantly correlated with LAV (p=0.040), LAV index (LAVi, p=0.02), and mitral inflow E wave (p=0.014).
  • IL-6 correlated strongly with CRP (r=0.75, p<0.001) but not with echocardiographic indices.
  • Patients in the highest CRP quartile had significantly higher LAVi (42 ± 17 mL/m²) compared to others (32 ± 11 mL/m², p=0.015).

Conclusions:

  • An association exists between elevated CRP levels and left atrial enlargement in HD patients without prior cardiovascular events.
  • Findings suggest a link between the physiopathological processes of left atrial dilation and the systemic inflammatory state in HD patients.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests01:22

Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

Aortic valve regurgitation (AR) occurs when the aortic valve fails to close properly, allowing blood to flow backward from the aorta into the left ventricle. This backflow can result in two distinct clinical presentations: acute and chronic AR, each characterized by its own set of symptoms and physical findings.Acute Aortic RegurgitationAcute AR presents with a sudden onset of severe symptoms. Patients typically experience profound dyspnea (shortness of breath), chest pain, and signs of left...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction01:22

Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction

Mitral Valve Stenosis (MVS) is a heart condition where the mitral valve narrows, impeding blood circulation from the left atrium to the left ventricle. The etiology and pathophysiology of this condition are multifaceted, leading to a cascade of cardiovascular complications.Causes of Mitral Valve StenosisRheumatic Heart Disease: It is the main cause of mitral valve stenosis, particularly in developing nations. This condition arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory illness resulting from...
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction01:23

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers01:19

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers

Cardiac biomarkers are critical in diagnosing, prognosing, and managing cardiovascular diseases. Routine measurement of specific biomarkers such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) is common practice in clinical settings to evaluate heart function and predict cardiovascular events.
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...