High Prevalence of Diastolic Dysfunction in Incident Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis: Association with Low Thyroid Hormones.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Diastolic dysfunction (DD) and low levels of thyroid hormones (TH) are frequent found in chronic kidney disease; both are associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. However, a link between them has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to analyze DD as a surrogate marker of fibrosis and its association with TH in incident patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study with 183 incident patients on PD with preserved ejection fraction was performed. Clinical and demographic data were registered. Serum total and free (t/f) triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4), and thyroid stimulating hormone levels were determined by RIA kits, albumin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein by conventional assays. Transthoracic 2D echocardiogram was performed for evaluation of left ventricular (LV) mass and ejection fraction. DD was evaluated using pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging.

RESULTS

Patients were 43 ± 12, 42% with diabetes mellitus (DM). Some degree of DD was found in 62% of patients; 18% had grade I DD, 8% grade II DD and 36% grade III DD. Patients with grade III DD were more likely to have diabetes, older, high LV mass and low serum albumin, t/fT3 and tT4 levels. In logistic multivariate regression analysis, it was found that diabetes (B = -0.86, 95% CI 0.182-0.992, p < 0.05), hypertension (B = -0.95, 95% CI 0.184-0.817, p = 0.01) and tT3 (B = -1.94, 95% CI 0.023-0.876, p < 0.05) were associated with grade III DD.

CONCLUSIONS

High prevalence of grade III DD was found in incident patients on PD. In addition to DM and hypertension, tT3 was found to be an independent risk factor for grade III DD and more studies are needed to understand the reasons as to why this association is present.