Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular size and function in children with arterial hypertension on hemodialysis

: In order to evaluate the effects of hypertension on left ventricular (LV) anatomy and function, we investigated children on long-term hemodialysis using two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography. The following echocardiographic estimations were made: indexed left atrial diameter (LAi) LV and diastolic diameter (LVDDi), inter ventricular septum (IVSi) and I.V posterior wall (PWi), with calculations of the LV mass index (massi), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), the velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (VCF) and wall stress (WS). LAi, LVEDDi, IVSi, PWi and massi were significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in normotensive and healthy children. EF and FS were significantly lower in both groups of dialyzed patients. The best correlation with mean arterial pressure had massi (r = 0.624), IVSi (r = 0.576) and PWi (r = 0.575). Those results suggest an important correlation between hypertension and concentric LV hypertrophy in long-term dialyzed patients.