Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular dimensions and function in chronic hemodialysis patients with cardiomegaly.

Results obtained by echocardiography in chronic hemodialysis patients with cardiomegaly show that there is a cardiomyopathy of congestive type at least in a small number of hemodialysis patients. A reduced contractility of the left ventricular myocardium with increased dimensions of the left ventricle in a uremic metabolic situation suggests that these cardiomyopathies are of uremic origin. Possible causes of "uremic cardiomyopathy" are discussed with reference to the literature.