The effect of isolated ultrafiltration on Doppler-derived indices of left ventricular diastolic function

Background. Haemodialysis (HD) is associated with acute changes simultaneously in fluid status (ultrafiltration) and in many biochemical parameters (dialysis). Reports on the effects of these changes on left ventricular (LV) diastolic function are scant. This study evaluated the effect of isolated ultrafiltration (UF) and subsequent HD with minimal fluid removal on Doppler-derived indices of LV diastolic function in patients who were asymptomatic and stable on HD. Methods. In 11 HD cases, the 5 h treatment session was divided into a 2.5 h period of fluid removal without dialysis (UF phase) and 2.5 h of dialysis with minimal fluid removal (HD phase). We examined the following parameters of LV diastolic function echocardiographically: early rapid filling (Emax), atrial peak filling (Amax), Emax/Amax ratio, isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) and deceleration time of the E-wave (DT). Results. During the UF phase, Emax decreased from 0.82±0.2 to 0.62±0.2 m/s (P ¼ 0.003), Amax decreased from 0.72±0.2 to 0.63±0.2 m/s (P ¼ 0.042) and the ratio Emax/Amax did not change (P ¼ NS). During the HD phase, Emax increased from 0.62±0.2 to 0.72±0.2 m/s (P ¼ 0.018), Amax increased from 0.63±0.2 to 0.70±0.3 m/s (P ¼ NS) and the Emax/ Amax ratio remained unchanged (P ¼ NS). IVRT was prolonged in 10 out of 11 patients at the start of the UF phase and it was further prolonged from 142±40 to 171±55 ms (P ¼ 0.03) during the UF phase. IVRT did not alter during the HD phase (P ¼ NS). During the UF phase, DT increased from 175±83 to 244±119 and it decreased from 244±119 to 209±98 in the HD phase, but both changes were statistically insignificant. No statistically significant correlations were observed between the changes in the Doppler indices of diastolic function and changes in biochemical parameters during the HD phase. Conclusions. UF affects the parameters Emax, Amax and IVRT used to evaluate LV diastolic function. The changes in Emax and Amax during the HD phase are due to fluid refilling from tissues into the blood space, HD as such having no effect on Doppler indices. However, isolated UF or HD does not affect the Emax/Amax ratio. Emax and IVRT seem to be the most volume-sensitive parameters.