Value of troponin T as a screening test of cardiac structure and function in chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease starts early in the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is the leading cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease. Since high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) can detect much lower levels of myocardial injury than conventional assays, it may be useful for studying the earliest stages of heart disease in patients with CKD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of circulating hs-cTnT with LV structural and functional abnormalities detected by echocardiography among dialysis dependent and non-dialysis dependent CKD patients. METHODS: This study was conducted on 107 subjects divided into three groups. Group I consisted of CKD patients on conservative treatment (n = 42), Group II: hemodialysis patients (n = 42), Group III: control group: age and sex matched healthy volunteers (n = 23). All subjects were subjected to clinical examination, biochemical evaluation including estimation of hs-cTnT and Echo-Doppler study of cardiac structure and function. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in LAV (p < 0.01), LVM (p < 0.01) in both patient groups compared to the control group. Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) was significantly decreased in both patient groups compared to the control group (p < 0.01, p < 0.05) and in group I compared to group II (p < 0.05) with a significant decrease in S velocity in group I compared to groups II and III (p < 0.01). There was a significant decrease in Vp (p < 0.01) with a significant increase in AEF (p < 0.01) in both patients' groups compared to the control group and AEF was significantly increased in group II compared to group I (p < 0.01). Ea velocity and Ea/Aa decreased significantly (p < 0.01) with significant increase in Aa velocity (p < 0.05, p < 0.01), E/Ea (p < 0.01) and E/Vp (p < 0.05) in both patient groups compared to the control group. There was a significant increase in hs-cTnT levels in both patient groups compared to the control group (P < 0.01). We found a positive correlation between hs-cTnT levels and LAV (r = 0.291, p < 0.03), IVST (r = 0.374, p < 0.004), PWT (r = 0.309, p < 0.02), LVM (r = 0.282, p < 0.03), A wave velocity (r = 0.271, p < 0.04), E/Ea (r = 0.506, p < 0.0001), PCWP (r = .507, p < 0.0001) and a negative correlation between hs-cTnT and MAPSE (r =  - 0.300, p < 0.02), S wave velocity (r =  - 0.259, p < 0.05), Ea (r =  - 626, p < 0.0001), Ea/Aa (r =  - 0.543, p < 0.0001). Troponin at the cut-off value of >5 ng/L, revealed 100% sensitivity and 95% specificity with areas under curve (AUC) of 0.998 and accuracy of 95.65% (P < 0.01) for discrimination of Group I vs control group and 76.2% sensitivity and 95.7% specificity with AUC 0.796 and accuracy 71.84% (P < 0.01) for discrimination of group II vs control group. CONCLUSION: Structural and functional cardiac abnormalities are common in CKD patients. Serum hs-cTnT levels increased in CKD patients and was associated with LVH, LAV and some of the echocardiographic parameters of LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Our research suggests that hs-cTnT levels may be important for early screening of cardiac structure and function in CKD patients to provide evidence for early intervention.

Atherosclerosis in chronic hepatitis C virus patients with and without liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and liver cirrhosis may be associated with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). There are two phases to atherosclerosis, Subclinical and Clinical. Assessment of atherosclerosis may be started at its Subclinical phase by the evaluation of Epicardial Fat Thickness (EpFT) and Carotid Intima Thickness (CIMT). AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to evaluate Clinical and Subclinical atherosclerosis in chronic HCV patients with and without liver cirrhosis by evaluating CIMT and EpFT and correlating the results with Child-Pugh functional scoring of cirrhosis as well as with ultrasound and laboratory parameters that define the severity of liver disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study involved 64 chronic HCV patients that were divided into two groups: 24 patients without liver cirrhosis and 40 patients with liver cirrhosis in addition to 20 apparently healthy volunteers serving as control. All of the 84 subjects were subjected to the following: Clinical evaluation; Routine Laboratory Evaluation (CBC, Liver Function Tests, Renal Function Tests, Serum electrolytes, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HBs antigen and HCV antibody); ECG; Abdominal ultrasound; Echocardiographic evaluation of segmental wall motion abnormalities and EpFT and B-Mode Carotid ultrasonography for evaluation of CIMT. RESULTS: In the cirrhotic HCV group, the CIMT and EpFT were both significantly increased [Compared to control group (p = 0.000), compared to the non-cirrhotic HCV group (p = 0.000)]. In the non-cirrhotic HCV group, the CIMT and EpFT were both significantly increased compared to the control group with a p-value of 0.003 for CIMT and 0.048 for EpFT. The CIMT and EpFT were also positively correlated with each other (r = 0.456, p = 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in the EpFT and CIMT in Child class B patients compared to Child class A (p = 0.007 for CIMT and p = 0.028 for EpFT) and in Child class C patients compared to Child class B patients (p = 0.001 for CIMT and 0.005 for EpFT). CIMT and EpFT were correlated positively with AST (r = 0.385, p = 0.002 for CIMT, and r = 0.379, p = 0.003 for EpFT), Total Bilirubin (r = 0.378, p = 0.003 for CIMT, and r = 0.384, p = 0.002 for EpFT), INR% (r = 0.456, p = 0.001 for CIMT, and r = 0.384, p = 0.001 for EpFT), CRP (r = 0.378, p = 0.003 for CIMT, and r = 0.386, p = 0.002 for EpFT), spleen span (r = 0.417, p = 0.001 for CIMT, and r = 0.437, p = 0.001 for EpFT) and portal Vein Diameter (r = 0.372, p = 0.003 for CIMT, and r = 0.379, p = 0.003 for EpFT). CIMT and EpFT were correlated negatively with Albumin (r = -0.379, p = 0.003 for CIMT, and r = -0.370, p = 0.003 for EpFT), platelets count (r = -0.382, p = 0.002 for CIMT, and r = -0.378, p = 0.003 for EpFT) and Liver Span (r = -0.433, p = 0.001 for CIMT, and r = -0.424, p = 0.001 for EpFT). CONCLUSION: EpFT and CIMT significantly increased in chronic hepatitis C virus patients especially in those with cirrhosis and closely correlated with each other. Their thickness also correlated with the Child-Pugh functional scoring of cirrhosis as well as with ultrasound and laboratory parameters that define the severity of liver disease.The echocardiographic assessment of EpFT and the carotid Doppler assessment of CIMT may provide appropriate and simple screening markers for subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk in chronic HCV patients with and without cirrhosis.

Association between serum visfatin and carotid atherosclerosis in diabetic and non-diabetic patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION: Adipose tissue releases bioactive factors termed adipokines. Visfatin is an adipokine that plays an active role promoting vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between serum visfatin levels and carotid atherosclerosis in diabetic and non-diabetic patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) in order to clarify the role of serum visfatinas, a risk factor for cardiovascular complications in HD patients. METHODS: Forty patients on maintenance hemodialysis were enrolled in this case-control study in 2015. They were subdivided into two groups, i.e., a diabetic group (n = 20) and a non-diabetic group (n = 20). Twenty healthy subjects who were age and gender matched were included as a control group. Carotid Duplex studies were performed on all patients, and serum visfatin was determined by a competitive enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: HD patients showed a highly significant increase in serum visfatin, urea, creatinine, Ca×Ph, K, fasting glucose, triglycerides, LDL levels, and a significant decrease in eGFR, Na, HDL, and Hb compared to the control group. Also, serum visfatin levels showed a highly significant increase in the diabetic HD group compared to both the non-diabetic HD and control groups. Serum visfatin showed a highly significant increase in non-diabetic HD patients compared to the control group. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) showed a highly significant increase in HD group compared to the control group. Serum visfatin correlated positively with serum urea, creatinine, glucose, and IMT, but it was negatively correlated with eGFR, Na, and HDL. CONCLUSION: We concluded that serum visfatin is increased in HD patients with and without diabetes. Moreover, its association with IMT may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in CRF patients.

Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Liver Cirrhosis and Fatty Liver: Correlation with Cardiac Performance.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were to assess the serum BNP level in patients with post hepatitis C liver cirrhosis and patients with fatty liver and to determine the correlation between BNP and the severity of liver disease and cardiac performance. METHODS: The study was conducted on 140 subjects subdivided into 3 groups: group 1 included 60 patients having post hepatitis C virus (HCV) liver cirrhosis; group 2 included 60 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); and group 3 included 20 healthy volunteers serving as a control group. All patients and volunteers were subjected to full physical examinations, laboratory evaluation of hemoglobin percent, liver and renal function tests, serum electrolytes, cholesterol, triglyceride, HBs antigen, HCV antibody and serum BNP levels, ECG, abdominal ultrasonography, and echocardiography. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the BNP level in cirrhotic patients compared to the other two groups (p = 0.000), and it was correlated with the severity of liver disease assigned as Child's classification (p = 0.000). Also, there was a significant increase in the BNP level in cirrhotic patients with decompensation components compared to those without decompensation components (p = 0.000), history of hepatic encephalopathy (p = 0.000), history of variceal bleeding (p = 0.000), history of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (p = 0.000), presence of ascites (p = 0.000) and portal vein diameter > 11 mm in abdominal ultrasound (p = 0.000), and prolonged QTc interval in ECG (p = 0.011). There was a significant increase in serum BNP in patients with cirrhosis with the following echocardiographic findings: IVST > 11 mm, PWT > 11 mm, LA diameter > 40 mm, EF% < 54%, and E/A ratio < 1 compared to those without these echocardiographic findings (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: BNP level increases in post hepatitis C cirrhotic patients and tends to decrease in fatty liver disease patients, and it is correlated with both the severity of liver disease and the morpho-functional cardiac changes. Given the ever-increasing prevalence of liver cirrhosis and fatty liver disease worldwide, it is important to understand the benefits and limitations of BNP as a heart failure biomarker in hepatic patients, where the relationship between BNP level and myocardial function is complex and is altered by the liver disease.

Assessment of the relationship between serum soluble Klotho and carotid intima-media thickness and left ventricular dysfunction in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between soluble Klotho (s-Klotho) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 88 patients with end-stage renal disease on regular HD. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and C-reactive protein were measured. The serum levels of s-Klotho and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) were measured using an Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Echocardiography and measurement of CIMT were also conducted. The studied patients were divided according to the median s-Klotho level into 2 groups: patients with low s-Klotho (Group I) and patients with high s-Klotho (Group II). RESULTS: Mean value of s-Klotho was significantly low in HD patients compared to controls (P = 0.001), and mean value of FGF-23 was significantly high in HD patients compared to controls (P = 0.001). The mean values of parathyroid hormone, FGF-23, and phosphorus were significantly high in Group I compared to Group II, whereas the mean value of serum calcium was significantly low in Group I compared to Group II. The mean values of CIMT, LV mass (LVM), LVM index, and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) were high in Group I compared to Group II. Patients with low s-Klotho had significantly more coronary artery disease (CAD). In a regression analysis of s-Klotho with different markers of cardiovascular diseases, s-Klotho showed significant association with CIMT, LVEF, and CAD, but not with LVM and LVM index. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that patients with a low s-Klotho were more often associated with increased CIMT, LV dysfunction, and CAD, and it seems that there was independent association between s-Klotho and CIMT, LVEF, and CAD.

The Role of Hemostatic Factors in Atherosclerosis in Patients with Chronic Renal Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality observed in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is thought to be a key initial event in the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of hemostatic factors in atherosclerosis, thrombosis and cardiovascular complications in patients suffering from chronic renal disease. METHODS: The study was conducted on 50 renal patients divided into two groups of equal size. Group 1 consisted of 25 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on regular hemodialysis. Group 2 consisted of 25 chronic renal disease patients on conservative treatment. Twenty age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were included in the study to serve as a control group. Thrombomodulin (TM), von Willebrand factor (vWF), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and hsCRP were assessed. High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography of both the common and internal carotid arteries to measure carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) was performed on all subjects. RESULTS: There were highly significant increases in hsCRP, TM, vWF, tPA and PAI-1 in both patient groups compared to the control group (P<0.01 for all except for TM between group 2 and 3 P<0.05) with significant increase in group 1 compared to group 2 (P<0.01). In addition, there was a highly significant increase in CIMT in both patient groups compared to the control group (P<0.01) with a significant increase in group 1 compared to group 2 (P<0.05). The study revealed significant positive correlation of hemostatic factors (TM, vWf, PAI-1 & t-PA) with creatinine, urea, hsCRP & CIMT. CONCLUSION: CKD patients have increased risk of atherosclerosis as measured by CIMT, which is used as a surrogate marker of early atherosclerosis and has been shown to be a strong predictor of future myocardial infarction and stroke. They have high levels of TM, vWF, tPA, PAI-1 that correlate with kidney function, hsCRP and CIMT. Therefore, these abnormalities in hemostasis may account for the increased risk of atherothrombosis in these patients. The elevated hsCRP levels and their correlation to hemostatic factors and CIMT might provide an important clue to link a systemic marker of inflammation to atherosclerosis. Further research is required to better understand the procoagulant state in patients with CKD.

Impact of hyponatremia on frequency of complications in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

INTRODUCTION: Hyponatremia is common in cirrhosis. The relationship between hyponatremia and severity of cirrhosis is evidenced by its close association with the occurrence of complications, the prevalence of hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, refectory ascites, and hepatic hydrothorax. The aim of this study was assess the impact of hyponatremia on the occurrence of both liver-related complications and the hemodynamic cardiovascular dysfunction. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in 2015 on 74 patients with liver cirrhosis. The patients were from the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Theodor Bilharz Research Institute in Giza, Egypt. The patients were divided into three groups according to their serum level of sodium. Group 1 included 30 patients with serum sodium >135 meq/L, group 2 included 24 patients with serum sodium between135 and 125 meq/L, and group 3 included 20 patients with serum sodium <125 meq/L. For each of the patients, we conducted aclinical examination, laboratory investigations, chest X-ray, ECG, abdominal sonar, and echocardiography. RESULTS: Hyponatremia was found in 59.46% of our cirrhotic patients, and they showed significantly increased Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, MELD-Na score, QTc interval, Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and inferior vena cava (IVC) collapsibility, and decreased SVR and IVC diameter. Also hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, renal failure, infectious complications, and pleural effusion were significantly more common in hyponatremic cirrhotic patients. CONCLUSION: In cirrhosis, hyponatremia is more common in severe cardiovascular dysfunction and associated with increased risk of hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, illness severity scores, renal failure, infectious complications, and pleural effusion. We recommend selective oral administration of vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist, tolvaptan, which acts to increase the excretion of free water, thereby resolving hypervolemic hyponatremia and may have the potential to improve outcomes in these patients.

Cardiac dysfunction in liver cirrhosis: A tissue Doppler imaging study from Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Patients with liver cirrhosis suffer from various cardiac abnormalities, which may influence their outcome. Tissue Doppler recording of the mitral and tricuspid annular diastolic velocities can be used to assess diastolic function accurately. There has been very little published information regarding RV diastolic function in liver cirrhosis. This study is aimed at evaluating right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions in post hepatitis C liver cirrhosis patients using conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. METHODS: This study was conducted on 75 adults from inpatient and outpatient services of the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI) hospital. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 included 50 patients with post hepatitis C liver cirrhosis; and Group 2 included 25 normal adults serving as a control group. All patients and normal volunteers were subjected to clinical examination, laboratory evaluation, abdominal ultrasonography and echocardiographic studies with tissue Doppler imaging for evaluation of left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic functions. RESULTS: The mitral flow showed significant increase in A wave velocity, as well as DT and IVRT with a significant decrease in E/A ratio in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (P<0.01). The tricuspid flow also showed a significant increase in A wave velocity (P<0.01) and DT (P<0.05) in addition to a significant decrease in E wave velocity and E/A ratio (P<0.01) in Group 1 as compared to Group 2. At the mitral annulus, we found a significant increase in average Aa velocity, E/Ea ratio and average systolic wave velocity S, in addition to a statistically significant decrease in the average Ea velocity and average Ea/Aa (P<0.01) in Group 1 as compared to Group 2. At the tricuspid annulus, there were significant increases in the average Aa velocity (P<0.01), S velocity (P<0.01) and E/Ea (P<0.05) together with a statistically significant decrease in the average Ea/Aa and average Ea velocity (P<0.01) in Group 1 compared to Group 2. CONCLUSION: It is important to evaluate the cardiovascular function in every patient with cirrhosis, especially if the patient is a candidate for any intervention that may affect haemodynamics.

Systemic vascular resistance and fluid status in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis with or without functional renal failure in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Functional renal failure and cardiovascular dysfunction are common complications of liver cirrhosis. This study aimed to evaluate cardiac performance, systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and fluid status in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis either with or without functional renal failure. METHODS: Sixty patients diagnosed as having decompensated liver cirrhosis were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 30 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis with ascites and with creatinine values ≤ 1.5 mg/dl. Group 2 included 30 azotemic decompensated cirrhotic patients with diagnostic criteria of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Also, 20 healthy subjects, of matched age and sex to the Group 1 and Group 2 patients, were included in the study as the control group. All patients and normal controls were subjected to clinical examination, laboratory evaluation, ECG, abdominal ultrasonography and echocardiographic studies. RESULTS: The echocardiographic and ECG data showed significant increase in LAD (P<0.01, P<0.01), AoD (P<0.05, P<0.01), interventricular septum thickness (IVST) (P<0.01, P<0.01), posterior wall thickness (PWT) (P<0.01, P<0.01), EDD (P<0.01, P<0.01), ESD (P<0.05, P<0.01), left ventricular (LV) mass (P<0.01, P<0.01), and Corrected QT (QTc) (P<0.01, P<0.01) interval with significant decrease in SVR (P<0.01, P<0.01). Additionally, there was significant decrease in IVC diameter in both patients groups compared to the control group (P<0.01, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis have low SVR, and Doppler echocardiography provides an easy noninvasive tool to assess this finding. Also, these patients demonstrate small inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter with normal collapsibility, which indicates low effective plasma volume. Measuring IVC diameter and collapsibility are of value in the prediction of intravascular fluid status in liver cirrhosis. This is especially true with renal dysfunction. Early addition of oral vasoconstrictors in decompensated patients may correct the SVR and circulatory dysfunction and hinder HRS occurrence.