title: Cardiac valve calcifications and left ventricular hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: Cardiac valve calcification (VC) is a common finding in end-stage renal disease patients. It was shown recently that VC is an independent predictor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients. In hemodialysis (HD) patients, VC was associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but after adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors and complications, as well as left ventricular mass index (LVMI), it lost significance. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between VC and left ventricular hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients. Echocardiographic examination with mitral and aortic valves assessment and LVMI calculation was performed in 65 HD patients ages 49+/-12, with duration of HD therapy 38+/-32 months. VC were found in 32 of 65 patients (49%)-Group VC(+), mitral valve calcifications (MVC) in 10, aortic valve calcifications (AVC) in 9, and both valves calcifications (MVC+AVC) in 13 patients. Patients with VC were older, on HD therapy were longer, had higher systolic and pulse pressure, and had higher LVMI. Patients with both VCs had the highest LVMI. No significant differences were found with respect to Ca, P, PTH, and mean Ca x P product, but the incidence of Ca x P product above 4.43 mmol2/L2 was higher in VC(+) compared with those without VCs. VC coexists with left ventricular hypertrophy, particularly when both valves are calcified. Even short-lasting incidents of increased Ca x P product may lead to cardiac VC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Internal Diseases, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland. st_pawel@cm.umk.pl
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strózecki
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Odrowaz-Sypniewska
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manitius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011336:Probability; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors