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Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in hemodialysis patients. Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is an important predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in these patients. Cardiac troponins (cTnT and cTnI) are indicators of myocardial cell damage.
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of LV hypertrophy, prevalence of elevated serum cTnT and cTnI in hemodialysis patients, and identify the correlation between cardiac troponins and LV hypertrophy.
Methods: The study included 115 hemodialysis patients (71 men and 44 women), mean age 53.30 ± 12.17 years, mean time on dialysis 4.51 ± 4.01 years and average Kt/Vsp 1.17 ± 0.23. Mean serum cTnT was 0.14 ± 0.23 ng/ml, mean serum troponin I 0.20 ± 0.48 ng/ml. Mean LV posterior wall thickness in diastole (LVPWd) was 11.44 ± 2.09 mm, mean LV interventricular septal wall thickness in diastole (IVSd) 11.21 ± 2.12 mm, mean LV end diastolic volume index (iLVEDV) 100.80 ± 34.62 mL/m2 and mean LV mass index (LVMi) 143.85 ± 41.21 g/m2.
Results: We found statistically significant positive correlations (p<0.05) between serum troponin T concentration, IVSd, LVPWd and iLVEDV. A highly significant positive correlation (p<0.01) was found between serum troponin T and LVMi. One-year follow-up showed that patients with cardiac troponin T > 0.10 ng/ml and cardiac troponin I > 0.15 ng/ml had significantly lower (p<0.01) survival rate than patients with troponin T ≤ 0.10 ng/ml and troponin I ≤ 0.15 ng/ml.
Conclusion: A significant positive correlation exists between serum troponin T concentration and echocardiographic indicators of LV hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients. Patients with higher serum levels of cardiac troponins have lower survival rates during one year follow up.
DOI: Clin. Lab. 2008;54:145-152
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