Abstract
We examined cardiac function by echocardiography and plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration in 56 patients on maintenance hemodialysis.
These patients were divided into two groups by plasma ANP concentration after hemodialysis. One group, having a normal concentration of plasma ANP (<75pg/ml), consisted of 37 patients (normal group.) The other group, having a high concentration of plasma ANP (≥75pg/ml), consisted of 19 patients (high group).
The level of plasma ANP was decreased in both groups by hemodialysis. There were no significant differences in left ventricular diastolic dimension (LVDd) and PEP/ET (pre-ejection phase/ejection time) between the two groups. Left ventricular systolic function did not differ in the normal group as compared to the high group. There were comparatively significant differences in posterior wall thickness (PWT), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular mass (LVmass) and isovolumic relaxation time (IRT) between the two groups. It was considered that ventricular hypertrophy was greater and that left diastolic function was lower in the high group than in the normal group.
In conclusion, we suggest that chronic hemodialysis patients with high ANP have left diastolic dysfunction rather than systolic dysfunction.
