Cardiovascular function in chronic glomerulonephritis: mechanocardiographic study

The relations between mechanocardiographic measurements, types of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and clinical data were examined in 70 cases of CGN (20 cases of the latent type, 6 cases of the nephritic type, 14 cases of the nephrotic type, 10 cases of the hypertensive type and 20 cases of the endstage). (1) In the different types of CGN, mechanocardiographic abnormalities increased in the order: latent type less than nephritic type less than nephrotic type less than hypertensive type less than endstage. (2) In the endstage, prolongations of ICT, ICT2 and PEP (p less than 0.01), shortening of LVET (p less than 0.05) and decrease of LVET/PEP (p less than 0.01) were observed. These abnormalities may be related to decreased myocardial contractility. (3) Analysis of the relations between mechanocardiographic measurements and results of various tests in all the cases showed that ICT, ICT2 and PEP were most nearly related to GFR, DBP, gamma-globulin and serum sodium and Q-T, Q-II/Q-T and (Q-T) -- (Q-II) were nearly related to Ht and age. The changes in cardiac function may be entirely due to increased blood pressure, decreased renal function, electrolyte disturbance, dysproteinemia and anemia associated with CGN. Abnormality in cardiac function seems to depend on the relative abnormalities of these factors and the extents of their influences.