Myocardial texture and cardiac calcification in uremia

Abstract

Seventy patients with advanced chronic renal failure were examined by 2D echocardiography in an effort to determine the prevalence of changes in myocardial texture and of valvular calcification. Changes in myocardial texture may be due to calcium deposition in the myocardium, the relationship between changes in myocardial texture and factors that may enhance myocardial calcification (blood levels of parathyroid hormone, PTH, and calcium-phosphorus product) were also evaluated. Myocardial texture was abnormal in 36 patients. In 68 patients, structural calcification could be assessed; a high degree of calcification was found. No correlation was found between either the echocardiographic parameter and blood levels of PTH or calcium-phosphorus product. We conclude that myocardial textural changes and intracardiac calcification are common in chronic renal failure and that these abnormalities do not correlate with blood PTH levels or calcium-phosphorus product.