title: Evaluation of left atrial functions in children with chronic renal failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One-quarter of deaths in children with chronic renal failure is due to cardiovascular complications. Conventional echocardiographic methods are insufficient for evaluating systolic functions in children with chronic renal failure. The aim of the present study was to investigate cardiac functions in children with chronic renal failure by evaluating left atrial volume and functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present cross-sectional observational study included 44 children undergoing dialysis, 16 children with chronic renal failure but not yet on dialysis, and 20 healthy control subjects. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed for all children. Variables regarding to left ventricle and atrium (left atrial systolic force, left atrial systolic force index, left atrial volume, left ventricular mass index, and relative wall thickness) were measured using two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Left atrial systolic force index was negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure and left ventricular mass (p=0.01, r=0.266 and p=0.02, r=0.347, respectively). However, it was positively correlated with both early and late diastolic mitral inflow velocity (r=0.518, p=0.001 and r=0.828, p=0.001, respectively). There were no significant difference among the groups in terms of left atrial systolic force index and left atrial volume. However, left atrial systolic force index was higher in children with chronic renal failure but not yet on dialysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Left atrial systolic force was negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure and left ventricular mass. These findings suggested that evaluating left atrial systolic force and left atrial volume were useful to determine diastolic dysfunction and the necessity of dialysis in patient with chronic renal failure.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Pediatric Cardiology, İzmir Buca Gynecology and Obstetrics and Pediatric Diseases Hospital; İzmir-Turkey. savasdemirpence@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Savaş
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demirpençe
authors.forename: Barış
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Güven
authors.forename: Timur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meşe
authors.forename: Erkin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serdaroğlu
authors.forename: Murat Muhtar
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Yılmazer
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Firuzan
authors.forename: Vedide
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tavlı
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic; D008297:Male; D006435:Renal Dialysis