It is plausible that factors other than blood pressure play an important role in LV remodeling in the ESRD population on NHD. Regression of LVH has been shown to improve systolic function, and reduce the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation [20–22]. Moreover, in check details patients with and without kidney failure, regression of LVH is associated with decreased all-cause mortality, rendering this a valid surrogate health outcome in this population [23, 24]. Left atrial enlargement is a common echocardiographic finding in patients with ESRD, affecting greater than 40 % of asymptomatic patients with stage 3 to 5 CKD [25]. Multiple SB273005 supplier factors may lead to LA enlargement including extracellular volume overload,

LV dysfunction, LVH and valvular heart disease, all of which are common in ESRD patients [26]. Observational studies in dialysis patients have shown that LA enlargement is significantly correlated with mortality risk, independent of LVMI and LV ejection fraction [26, 27]. Right atrial enlargement has also been shown to be an independent risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation [28]. To our knowledge, this selleck compound is the first TTE and CMR study to report the effect of NHD on atrial size. In our study, there was a significant decrease in RAVI and LAVI by TTE and CMR after 1 year of NHD. These results suggest that atrial remodeling may be reversed with NHD, thus

potentially lowering the risk of future cardiovascular complications, including atrial rhythm disturbances in the CKD population. Diastolic dysfunction is an independent predictor of mortality and is the most common echocardiographic finding in asymptomatic dialysis patients [19, 29]. Diastolic dysfunction is strongly associated with hypertension, LVH, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus, all of which are common in patients with ESRD [19]. The increase in left ventricular stiffness

causes a shift of the pressure–volume curve to the left, leading to an increased sensitivity to changes in LV volume. Small increases in LV volume can lead to pulmonary congestion while small decreases in LV volume can lead to hypotension [19]. While previous studies have shown regression of LVH in ESRD patients who convert to NHD [4, 6], no study has reported the effect of NHD on diastolic function. This study is the first to show a significant improvement Montelukast Sodium in diastolic dysfunction from a grade of 3.4 to 1.2 after 1 year of NHD with an improvement in overall LV filling pressures. While regression of diastolic dysfunction has been associated with LVH regression in prior studies, it is not known whether this leads to improved survival or a reduction in cardiovascular events [20, 30]. There are several important limitations of our study. First of all, due to the limited sample size, our study may have been underpowered to detect differences in our secondary endpoints. Secondly, this was an observational cohort study.