Calcified Plaques in Carotid and Femoral Arteries in Association with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Ejection Fraction in Hemodialysis Patients

Background/ Two principal cardiovascular findings in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients who undergo hemodialy-sis are left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and arterial disease due to rapidly progressive atherosclerotic vascular disease that can be characterized by arterial plaques. In this study we studied the relationship of LVH and ejection fraction with carotid and femoral artery plaques in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis. Sixty-one ESRD patients who underwent maintenance hemodialysis (F=23, M=38) were considered. There were 50 non-diabetic hemodialysis patients (F=20, M=30) and 11 diabetic hemodialysis patients (F=3, M=8). For all the subjects echocardiography and B-mode ultrasonographic assessment of carotid-femoral arteries for plaque occurrence were performed. In this study there was a positive correlation between LVH and the duration of hemodialysis treatment; and also a significant asso-ciation between LVH and plaque score. Positive correlation was also demonstrated between hypertension and plaque score. Also an inverse correlation of plaque score with LV ejection fraction was noted. Moreover, the association of plaque score with diabetes mellitus was positive. The present study signifies the cardiac and vascular adaptation secondary to ESRD and demonstrates the potential contribution of structural and functional alteration in the large arteries to the pathogenesis of left ventricular hypertrophy, which requires more attention in hemodi-alysis patients.