title: Doppler echocardiograph evaluation of pulmonary hypertension in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
abstract: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been reported in hemodialysis (HD) patients, but data regarding its incidence and mechanisms are scarce. The aims of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of unexplained PH in long-term HD patients, and to examine some possible etiologic factors for its occurrence. The prevalence of PH was estimated by Doppler echocardiography in a cohort of 86 stable patients on HD via arteriovenous access for more than 12 months. All the patients underwent full clinical evaluation, chest radiography, and a standard 12-lead echocardiograph. Laboratory investigation included a mean of 12 months (serum calcium, phosphorus, parathormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase, lipids, and hemoglobin). Pulmonary hypertension was defined as pulmonary artery systolic pressure >35 mmHg as determined by Doppler echocardiography using the modified Bernoulli equation. Pulmonary hypertension was detected in 23 patients (26.74%). Of those with PH, left ventricular hypertrophy was seen in 13 patients (56.52%), and valvular calcifications in 6 patients (26.08%). There were no significant differences between both groups with regard to age, sex, duration of dialysis, shunt location, and all the biological parameters of the study. The presence of PH was not related to the level of PTH, or the severity of other metabolic abnormalities. This study demonstrates a high prevalence of PH among patients with ESRD receiving long-term HD via surgical arteriovenous access. The role of the vascular access, anemia, or secondary hyperparathyroidism as the etiology of PH in HD patients did not hold in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, IBN ROCHD University Hospital Center, Casablanca, Morrocco. faissal76@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Faissal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tarrass
authors.forename: Meryem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benjelloun
authors.forename: Ghislaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Medkouri
authors.forename: Khadija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hachim
authors.forename: Mohamed Gharbi
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Benghanem
authors.forename: Benyounes
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramdani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone