Relationship between left atrial functions, P-terminal force and interatrial block in chronic haemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Interatrial block (IAB) connotes a P wave duration 110 msec on elec - trocardiography (ECG). P-terminal force corre - sponds to a biphasic P wave with its terminal neg - ative phase 40 msec x mm in V1 derivation on ECG. IAB and P-terminal force are closely related parameters and they are accepted as predictors for left atrial dysfunction, left atrial dilatation, atrial fibrillation and strokes. Left atrial functions in chronic haemodialysis patients becomes worse in the course of time because of long standing pres - sure and volume overload. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between IAB, P-termi - nal force and left atrial functions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 68 chronic haemodialysis patients and 60 control subjects were included in the study. Conventional echocar - diography and left atrial dynamic functions were measured in all cases. The subjects with IAB and P-terminal force on ECG were identified. RESULTS: Left ventricular size, wall thickness and left atrial diameters were significantly greater in haemodialysis patients than the control group (p< 0.001). 42 (62%) patients had IAB ( 110 msec) and 45 (66%) patients had P-terminal force ( 40 msec x mm) in the haemodialysis group. Left atrial reservoir, conduit and pump functions were signif - icantly lower in the haemodialysis group than the control group ( p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between left atrial func - tions, IAB ( 110 msec) and P-terminal force ( 40msec x mm) in all parameters ( p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that de - creased left atrial functions in chronic haemodial - ysis patients are closely correlated with IAB and P- terminal force.