RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEFT-VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY, MYOCARDIAL-CONTRACTILITY, AND LOAD CONDITIONS IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS - AN ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC STUDY

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is common and is an independent car diac risk factor in dialysis patients, The aim of this study was to as sess hemodynamic determinants of LVH and, more particularly, the relat ionship between left ventricular mass, myocardial contractility, and l oad conditions, Eighty dialysis patients aged 51 +/- 15 years were pro spectively studied by echocardiography, LVH was detected in 62 patient s (78%), Left ventricular mass was significantly correlated to both en d-diastolic volume (r = 0.54; P < 0.001) and end-systolic stress/end-s ystolic volume, an index of contractility (r = -0.66; P < 0.001), but not to systolic blood pressure or end-systolic stress, both indexes of afterload, Thus, in dialysis patients, the degree of LVH is significa ntly correlated with the severity of both left ventricular dilatation and contractile myocardial failure, but not with left ventricular afte rload. (C) 1997 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.