Echocardiographic assessment of cardiac function in the children of chronic renal failure with cardiomegary

Abstract

Five chirdren (four boys and one girl) with chronic renal failure (CRF)developed congestive heart failure 0.5 to 11 years after the onset of the disease. Their ages were from 4 to 13 years old. They noticed tachypnea, tachycardia, cough, chest anxienty, general fatigue and their chestX-rays showed cardiomegaly with cardio-thoracic ratio (CTR) of from 55 to 63% and pulmonary congestion. Their echocardiograms showed no casrdiomuscular hypertrophy, but the dilatation of left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDd), and the decreased ejection fraction (EF) were observed. They were treated with water restriction, antihypertensive agents, cardiotonics and dialysis. Their clinical symptoms improved promptly, but their cardiomegary and echocardiographic findings improved gradually, The causes of heart failure in these patients seemed to be due to uremia, fluid overload and hypertention. The echocardiographic examination was useful for the management of the children with CRF in heart failure.