Changes by two-dimensional echocardiography in the myocardial appearance of patients with end-stage renal disease.

ABSTRACT

A retrospective study of the clinical and biochemical data of all patients with end-stage renal disease who underwent 2-dimensional echocardiography at Tulane Medical Center between 1982 and 1986 was performed. Complete echocardiographic data were available for comparison in 53 patients. Highly reflective echoes were judged to be present in the myocardium of 81% of the patients. This characteristic is described as a "glistening speckled appearance." Patients with this characteristic had significantly greater left ventricular mass index (p = 0.0021).