Relation between carotid intimal medial thickness and left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass indices in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a risk factor of cardiovascular morbidity in dialysis patients. The association between LV mass and carotid intimal medial thickness (CIMT) could be due to increased hemodynamic load in dialysis patients. The relationship between CIMT and LVM indices in hemodialysis (HD) patients was investigated. This is a cross-sectional study including 65 HD patients, divided into two groups: Group 1 with CIMT ≤ 1 mm (N = 29), Group 2 with CIMT > 1 mm (N = 36). Echocardiographic evaluation of the LVM, CIMT measurement using B-mode ultrasonography, patients' basic clinical and biochemical data were recorded. Patients with CIMT > 1 mm (Group 2) showed significantly higher LVM, LVM/BSA (body surface area), and LVM/Ht2.7 (height). Regarding linear regression, CIMT was found to be an independent predictor for LVM, LVM/BSA, and LVM/Ht2.7 . LVM, LVMI, and LVM/Ht2.7 are significantly elevated in HD patients with CIMT > 1 mm group. CIMT was found to be the independent predictor for LVH in maintenance HD patients.