Relationship of Remodeling of Carotid Arteries and Left Ventricular Geometry in Patients With Chronic Glomerulonephritis.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: to study clinical-functional features of remodeling of carotid arteries and its relation to restructuring of the left ventricle (LV) in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis at pre-dialysis stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 269 patients (189 men, 80 women) with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) aged 17-71 years, at pre-dialysis stages of the disease. We analyzed biochemical parameters of peripheral blood with the determination of daily proteinuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). For identification of structural changes of carotid arteries (CA) and LV we used Doppler ultrasound and echocardiography. RESULTS: Atherosclerotic changes of CA were found in 79 patients (29.3%). Four patients (1.4%) had history of acute disturbance of cerebral circulation. Concentric type of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was significantly more prevalent among patients with CA remodeling compared with those without (37.84 vs. 18.75%; p=0.006). Eccentric variant of LVH was significantly more prevalent among patients without atherosclerotic lesions in CA compared with those with CA remodeling (81.25% vs. 62.16%; p=0.001). Increased CA intima media thickness positively correlated with body mass index (r=0.273; p=0.014) and negatively - with GFR (r= -0.222; p=0.048). Statistically significant relationships were also found between the presence of carotid atherosclerosis and structural rearrangements of the heart. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a clear relationship between GFR, restructuring of CA and concentric type of change of LV geometry, regardless of the presence of traditional risk factors.