Role of 2-D echocardiography in detecting cardiovascular abnormalities in chronic kidney disease patients: Case series of 50 chronic kidney disease patients

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a major public health problem worldwide with continuously increasing incidence and prevalence. Diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease worldwide, whereas hypertension is a cause as well as effect of chronic kidney disease. Objectives: To evaluate and analyze the echocardiographic changes in the end stage renal disease patients on maintenance haemodialysis by the help of 2-D echocardiography. Materials and methods: End stage renal disease (ESRD) patients who were on maintenance haemodialysis for at least 3 months, in MG hospital were included in the study. We performed 2-Dechocardiography in 50 ESRD patients during inter-dialytic period. Patients with clinical evidence of coronary artery disease, previous history of hypertension, valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease and pericardial effusion were excluded from this study. Results: out of 50 chronic kidney disease patients, echocardiography revealed LVH in 29 (58%) patients, LVDD in 25(50%) patients, pericardial effusion in 10 (20%) patients, pulmonary hypertension in 23(46%) patients, dilated left atrium in 14(28%) patients, dilated left ventricle in 4 (8%) patients and regional wall motion abnormalities in 3 (6%) patients. Hypertension was present in 46 (92%) out of 50 CKD patients out of which LVH was in 29 patients. Severe Anaemia was present in 10 (20%) patients. Conclusion: LV diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy were the most common and significant echocardiographic findings among 50 CKD patients. There was statistically significant correlation between anaemia and the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy and positive correlation between presence of hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy.