Hemodialysis-induced repetitive myocardial injury results in global and segmental reduction in systolic cardiac function.
OBJECTIVE
Hemodialysis (HD)-induced regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMAs) are common in HD patients and driven by ischemia. In nondialysis patients, repeated ischemia leads to chronic reduction in left ventricular (LV) function. HD-induced myocardial ischemia may initiate the same process. We examined the effect of HD-induced repetitive myocardial stunning on global and regional LV function.


METHODS
We analyzed data from 30 patients, previously identified as developing HD-induced myocardial ischemia. Serial echocardiographic assessments of global and regional LV performance were performed at baseline and repeated after 12 mo.


RESULTS
Several patients developed segments with a fixed reduction in systolic function of >60% after 1 yr. In this patient group, there was a significant reduction in resting LV ejection fraction (EF) from 61.5 +/- 10.1% to 52.9 +/- 8.6% (P < 0.007). Peak LV EF in response to dialysis also decreased from 59.5 +/- 10% versus 49.9 +/- 6.5% (P < 0.003), with a consequent increase in HD-induced hypotension (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
HD-induced myocardial stunning may progress over 12 mo to the development of regional fixed systolic dysfunction, consistent with underlying myocardial hibernation and fibrosis. This may be an important and potentially modifiable process in the development of heart failure in HD patients.
Burton
James O
JO
Department of Renal Medicine, Derby City Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby, UK. james.burton@nhs.net
Jefferies
Helen J
HJ
Selby
Nicholas M
NM
McIntyre
Christopher W
CW
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D054143:Heart Failure, Systolic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017682:Myocardial Stunning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology