Serum fetuin-A is associated with the components of MIAC(malnutrition, inflammation, atherosclerosis, calcification) syndrome in different stages of chronic kidney disease

Background/aim: Fetuin-A, a circulating inhibitor of calcification, is a marker of inflammatory-nutritional state. We evaluated the association between serum fetuin-A levels and vascular calcification, intima-media thickness, and nutritional and inflammatory markers in different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Materials and methods: CKD patients were sampled for calcium-phosphate parameters and nutritional and inflammatory markers [highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)], and serum fetuin-A levels. Intima-media thicknesses of the common carotid arteries (CIMT) were measured. Peripheral artery calcification scores were obtained. Results: A total of 238 patients were included in the study. Fetuin-A levels in patients with end-stage renal disease were significantly lower than those in patients with stage-3 and stage-4 CKD (stage-5 vs. stage-4, P < 0.001; stage-5 vs. stage-3, P < 0.001). Fetuin-A was negatively correlated with creatinine (P < 0.001), Ca × P product (P < 0.001), hs-CRP (P = 0.01), vascular calcification score (P < 0.001), and CIMT (P < 0.001), and positively correlated with BMI (P < 0.001, r = 0.30) and serum albumin (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Lower levels of fetuin-A were associated with higher vascular calcification scores, CIMT, hs-CRP levels, and lower BMI and albumin. Fetuin-A deficiency may be a key element for MIAC syndrome.

The impact of volume overload on right heart function in end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of volume overload on echocardiographic parameters used for the assessment of the right ventricle (RV) and right atrium (RA), to determine volume-independent parameters and to noninvasively investigate the physio-mechanics of RV and RA by examining end-stage kidney patients before and after hemodialysis (HD). METHODS: The echocardiographic images were obtained from 67 patients (49.2 ± 17.3 years, 23 f) before and after HD. Changes in echocardiographic parameters with HD were examined. The average ultrafiltrated volume was 3088.1 ± 1103.7 mL. RESULTS: The size of RV and RA and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) decreased after HD, whereas myocardial performance index increased. RV fractional area change and iso-volumetric contraction acceleration time remained unchanged. RV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and RV early diastolic strain rate (SR) decreased after HD. Systolic and late diastolic SR of the RV showed no statistically significant difference after HD. Longitudinal strain and SR of RA contraction were not significantly different after HD. The changes in RV GLS (r = .641, P = .027), RV free wall longitudinal strain (r = .643, P < .001), RA reservoir phase strain (r = .60, P = .008), and TAPSE (r = .642, P = .001) significantly correlated with ultrafiltrated volume. CONCLUSION: Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography is an easy and noninvasive tool that could provide additional volume-independent echocardiographic parameters and more information on RA physio-mechanics. This might lead to a better evaluation of the cardiac pathophysiology and hemodynamics of patients. Moreover, providing novel volume-independent parameters for the evaluation of right heart chambers would improve the clinical perspectives of patients.

Left atrial contractile longitudinal strain determines intrinsic left atrial function regardless of load status and left ventricular deformation.

PURPOSE: Left atrial (LA) longitudinal strain (S) has been proposed as a superior, non-invasive parameter over LA volumetric assessment. LAS has diagnostic and prognostic value in many cardiovascular pathologies. Nevertheless, the acute effect of hemodynamic changes on LAS indices is not well-established. We sought to identify volume independent physiomechanical changes in LA and interrelation between LA and left ventricular (LV) strain indices following a large amount of fluid loss provided by hemodialysis. METHODS: Seventy-five patients between 18 and 85 years of age under hemodialysis therapy were included. The echocardiographic images were obtained before and after hemodialysis. Phasic LAS and LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) were calculated. The impact of volume depletion on echocardiographic measurements and their temporal correlation were calculated. RESULTS: LV and LA dimensions,volumes and LV, LA reservoir, and conduit deformation showed a significant decrease after hemodialysis. No significant change was observed for LAScontraction (p = 0.203). The ultrafiltrated volume was significantly correlated with the changes in LVGLS (r = 0.75, p < 0.001), and LASreservoir (r = 0.81, p < 0.001) and LA total emptying volume (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Absolute changes in LASreservoir and LVGLS were strongly correlated (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). There was no correlation between absolute changes in LAScontraction and LVGLS or ultrafiltrated volume (p = NS, both). CONCLUSION: LA reservoir and conduit LS are highly volume dependent strain parameters and are strongly correlated with LV deformation along with ultrafiltrated volume. Acute excessive volume depletion or LV deformation have no influence on LAScontraction. It is important to identify independent easily accessible functional parameters for the LA which would improve clinical evaluation.

High-sensitive troponin T increase after hemodialysis is associated with left ventricular global longitudinal strain and ultrafiltration rate.

BACKGROUND: Circulating troponin levels are both stable and higher in patients with end-stage renal disease, even in the absence of acute coronary syndrome. These patients commonly have underlying cardiac problems that frequently cause troponin elevation. The effect of hemodialysis (HD) on troponin levels has not been well elucidated. Thus, investigated herein is the relationship between the changes in troponin levels along with left ventricular deformation and volume depletion in patients with end-stage renal disease. METHODS: Patients included were between 18 and 85 years of age and were receiving hemodialysis for at least 6 months. High sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) levels were studied in blood samples taken at the beginning and end of HD. Two-dimensional speckle tracking strain imaging was used to evaluate myocardial contractility. RESULTS: Seventy patients (50.7 ± 16.9 years of age, 27 women) were included in study. The mean volume of ultrafiltration was 3260 ± 990 mL. A significant increase in circulating hs-cTnT levels was observed, as well as a prominent decrease in left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) after HD (52.4 ± 40.2 ng/L vs. 66.8 ± 48.5 ng/L, p < 0.001 and 20.1 ± 3.6% vs. 16.8 ± 3.8% p < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, ultrafiltration rate and GLS were found as the strongest independent variables in relation to the relative increase in hs-cTnT. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodialysis can cause a significant increase in hsTnT. This can jeopardize the accuracy of clinical diagnoses based on hs-TnT measurements. GLS may be used as a determinant of this hs-TnT increase. The influence of HD on the cardiovascular system should be kept in mind to prevent unnecessary interventions.