Left ventricular hypertrophy and risk factors for its development in uraemic patients

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of mortality in uraemic patients treated by hemodialysis. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is considered to be a major cardiac risk factor. AIM: To investigate the presence of some potential adverse risk factors in hemodialysis patients with developed LVH echocardiography verified and determine their relative contribution to the LVH in comparison with patients with normal LV. METHOD: The study included 50 patients with end-stage renal disease in the first 2 years of hemodialysis treatment, who were followed up during one year. All participants have the echocardiography performed as well as serial measurements of potential modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: This investigation showed that LVH is present in high percentage (72%) in uraemic patients, even at the beginning of hemodialysis treatment. This LV morphological abnormality is statistically significantly related to anaemia (p<0,001), systolic (p<0,001) and diastolic hypertension (p<0,001)), elevated mean arterial pressure (p<0,001) and hyperparathyroidism (p=0,002). CONCLUSION: Modification of existing risk factors in uraemic patients could contribute to prevention and treatment of LV hypertophy and thus reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Keywords

• left ventricular hypertrophy
• uraemia
• cardiovascular factors