title: The occurrence of atrial fibrillation in dialysis patients and its association with left atrium volume before and after dialysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atrial fibrillation is a serious problem, especially in patients on dialysis. The prevalence of AF in this group of patients is higher than in general population and associated with increased mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of the occurrence of atrial fibrillation related to intradialysis hypotension and left atrium volume enlargement associated with dialysis. The influence of dialysis session on: E/E', V LA, E/A, E', V RA and the width of inferior vena cava of RV was analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 40 patients on hemodialysis. Echocardiographic examination was performed to assess heart condition and function, the presence of LVH and systolic and diastolic function disturbances, LV mass, LA size, LAV, RAV, E/A, E', E/E, ejection fraction in all patients before and after dialysis. Moreover, all patients had ECG Holter continuously recording heart's rhythm before and after dialysis to assess the occurrence of atrial fibrillation related to dialysis session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis of differences in echocardiographic parameters before and after dialysis demonstrated significantly greater left atrium volume, right atrium volume, width of inferior vena cava and e' parameter before dialysis in comparison with post-dialysis state. Significantly higher incidence of AF after dialysis was seen. Volume of left atrium exceeding 32 mm (cutoff value) was observed significantly more often in patients before dialysis. No association was observed between left ventricle mass and left atrium volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dialysis procedure may be a trigger for atrial fibrillation and thus AF preventive measures should be introduced in dialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Family Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Franczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Family Medicine, WAM Teaching Hospital, Zeromskiego 113, 90-549, Lodz, Poland. aniagluba@yahoo.pl.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gluba-Brzózka
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Family Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bartnicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Family Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rysz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology*; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007022:Hypotension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013599:Systole; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Dialysis; ECG Holter; Echocardiography; Left atrium volume; Left ventricle mass