[Structural-functional alterations in the heart affecting dynamics of transmitral blood flow during a hemodialysis session]

Abstract

Aim: To study dynamics of transmitral circulation (TMC) during a hemodialysis (HD) session in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) regarding structural-functional alterations of the heart and baseline condition of the diastolic function of left ventricular (LV) myocardium.

Material and methods: Sixty one patients (34 females and 27 males, mean age 47 +/- 11 years) on programmed HD free of heart valvular disease, ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation. Before and after HD session the patients underwent echocardiography, including Doppler regime.

Results: Normal LV geometry was detected in 3 (4.9%) patients, concentric remodeling - in 9 (14.8%), concentric LV hypertrophy (LVH) - in 37 (60.7%), excentric LVH - in 12 (19.7%) patients. The ejection fraction was under 45% in 5 (8.2%) patients. Diastolic dysfunction of LV myocardium was found in 42 (68.9%) patients, TMC characteristic of slow relaxation was registered most frequently (47.6%). A pseudonormal type of TMC was recorded in 16 (38.1%) patients. HD did not change TMC significantly in patients with normal diastolic function (before HD E peak velocity was 88.7 +/- 19.8 cm/s, after - 80.0 +/- 24.6 cm/s, p > 0.05). In patients with initially disturbed relaxation the velocity of early diastolic flow (Vp) (color M-mode Doppler) increased (before HD, Vp was 67.6 +/- 17.1 cm/s, after - 72.9 +/- 15.7 cm/s, p < 0.05), E/Vp reduced (before HDm E/Vp was 1.2 +/- 0.4, after 1.0 +/- 0.4, p < 0.05). The subgroup with initially pseudonormal TMC showed decreased velocity in the E peak (before HD - 103.4 +/- 13.5 cm/s, after - 76.8 +/- 24.0 cm/s, p < 0.001). In restrictive TMC this velocity also decreased - 129.0 +/- 17.8 cm/s and 108.8 +/- 14.7 cm/s, p < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusion: TMC alteration during a HD session depends more on initial type of diastolic dysfunction than on LV geometry. A HD session improves intracardiac hemodynamics in patients with pseudonormal TMC.