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Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Left ventricular mass behaviour in hemodialysis patients during 17 years
Loren Giagio Cavalcante1, Cavalcante Ricardo de Souza1, Ana Claudia Kochi1
1Universidade Estadual Paulista, BR.
Insights
Left ventricular hypertrophy significantly decreased in hemodialysis patients over 17 years. This reduction was linked to lower blood pressure and improved hemoglobin levels, offering insights into managing cardiac health in dialysis patients.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is common in dialysis patients, carrying a poor prognosis.
- The long-term trend of LVH in hemodialysis patients remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in left ventricular hypertrophy over 17 years in a university dialysis center.
- To identify potential factors influencing these changes.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective longitudinal study analyzing echocardiographic left ventricular mass.
- Included 250 hemodialysis patients aged 18+ years over a 17-year period.
Main Results:
- A progressive reduction in left ventricular mass was observed during the study period.
- This reduction correlated with decreased blood pressure.
- Multivariate analysis showed associations between ventricular mass, blood pressure, and hemoglobin levels.
Conclusions:
- Significant reduction in left ventricular hypertrophy occurred over 17 years in hemodialysis patients.
- Progressive blood pressure reduction and increased hemoglobin levels were associated with this decline.
Introduction:
Ventricular hypertrophy is frequent in dialysis patients and is associated with an ominous prognosis. It is not knowledge if this ventricular change is growing or decreasing in hemodialysis patients.
Objective:
To assess left ventricular hypertrophy behaviour during 17 years in patients of a university dialysis center, as well as to verify the possible causes of this behavior.
Methods:
There was performed a retrospective longitudinal study that evaluated the echocardiographic left ventricular mass in hemodialysis patients in our dialysis facility over 17 years. Examinations of 250 patients aged 18 years or more who underwent routine echocardiography were included.
Results:
There was a progressive reduction of ventricular mass over studied period. This reduction was associated with blood pressure reduction. In multivariate analysis, ventricular mass was associated with blood pressure and hemoglobin.
Conclusion:
Left ventricular hypertrophy underwent significant reduction over 17 years in our hemodialysis patients. The factors associated with this reduction that could be identified in the current study were the progressive reduction of blood pressure and hemoglobin increase.
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