Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Dysfunction in Children With End-Stage Kidney Disease Using Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography

Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Dysfunction in Children With End-Stage Kidney Disease Using Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography

The present study aimed to assess left ventricular myocardial dysfunction in children with chronic kidney disease using 2D and 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex and multifaceted disease that causes renal dysfunction and progression to end-stage kidney disease.

Cardiovascular risk is common in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis, many studies have shown that the risk of adverse cardiovascular events is significantly increased and persistent in all patients treated with hemodialysis, especially those who have just started hemodialysis treatment.

Patients with end-stage renal disease have elevated levels of cardiac biomarkers, despite no apparent signs of cardiac dysfunction or radial damage; this is related to chronic kidney disease comorbidities and reduced renal clearance per se.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 4 and 18 years.
• Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving regular hemodialysis for ≥1 year.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of structural or congenital heart disease.
• Patients with poor echocardiographic window or arrhythmias interfering with image acquisition.