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Background: Available studies of the effect of hemodialysis (HD) on left ventricular (LV) performance brought ambiguous results. Therefore we aimed to investigate the effect of acute preload reduction induced by HD on conventional and novel parameters of LV structure and function. Methods: Thirty-six patients underwent echocardiography 1 hour prior to and 1 hour following regular HD. M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography were used to analyze conventional LV structural and functional parameters. Systolic and diastolic mitral annular velocities assessed by pulsed-wave tissue Doppler echocardiography (PW-TDE) and flow propagation velocity (Vp) of early LV inflow were measured as novel indices of LV systolic and diastolic function. Results: After HD, all heart chambers including LV significantly reduced in their size. The reduction in LV mass was also observed. Parameters of LV systolic function—ejection fraction and systolic mitral annular velocity, significantly improved, whereas fractional shortening did not. As for LV diastolic function, conventional Doppler parameters and Vp were substantially changed after HD. Conversely, PW-TDE diastolic velocities were not significantly affected. Conclusions: The fluid removal induced by HD leads to a substantial decrease in LV size and mass. The improvement of LV longitudinal contraction documented by PW-TDE seems to be responsible for the increase in global LV systolic function after HD. While standard Doppler parameters of LV diastolic function and Vp are significantly affected by preload reduction, PW-TDE diastolic indices appears to be less load dependent. Therefore, PW-TDE represents a promising method for the LV diastolic function assessment in patients on HD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients on chronic haemodialysis have a wide range of changes in cardiac function and structure, including left ventricular hypertrophy, dilation and diastolic dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension. All these changes were linked to increased mortality in previous studies. High-flow arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are supposed to be a factor contributing to their development. This study investigated the early effect of surgical AVF blood flow (Qa) reduction on these changes in patients with or without heart failure changes. Forty-two patients in chronic haemodialysis programme with high-flow AVF (Qa over 1500 mL/min), indicated for surgery for ≥1 of the following indications: 1.manifest heart failure; 2.hand ischemia; 3.advanced structural heart changes detected by echocardiography. The patients underwent echocardiography on selection visit, before blood flow reducing surgery and six weeks thereafter. The Qa reduction led to decrease of left ventricular mass (p = 0.02), end-diastolic volume (p = 0.008), end-diastolic diameter (p = 0.003) and left atrial volume (p = 0.0006). Diastolic function improved. Similarly, right ventricular diameter and right atrial volume decreased (p = 0.000001 and 0.00009, respectively) together with the decrease of estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure. 81% of patients suffered from pulmonary hypertension prior to surgery, only 36% thereafter. The surgical restriction of the hyperkinetic circulation leads to several improvements of heart structure and function, which was linked to higher mortality in other studies. The beneficial effect of Qa reduction is present even in patients without symptoms of heart failure. The contribution of AVF must be considered with structural or functional heart changes. • Reduction of arteriovenous fistula blood flow leads to decrease of volumes of all heart cavities. • Prognostically significant echocardiographic findings improve after the procedure. • Even the asymptomatic patients benefit from reduction of hyperkinetic circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]