Echocardiographic findings in dialysis patients

ABSTRACT

In order to evaluate the echocardiographic changes in haemodialysis patients, an observational study was performed in the cardiology and nephrology departments at the University Teaching Hospital. Eighty patients on regular haemodialysis underwent transthoracic echocardiogram for systolic, diastolic, wall thickness chamber diameter, calcification pericardial space and Doppler-flow assessment. The echocardiographic abnormalities were diastolic dysfunction [88%] left ventricular hypertrophy [LVH] [84%] left atrial enlargement [62%], left ventricular dilatation [55%], mitral valve calcification [47%], depressed left ventricular function [35% and pericardial effusion [18%]. A normal echocardiogram was present in 9 [11%] patients. Echocardiographic abnormalties were found to be common in our haemodialysis and some were potentially treatable and preventable. Early evaluation and assessments are recommended in all maintenance dialysis patients by echocardiogram