Introduction: Impaired cardiac function is frequently present in patients on maintenance haemodialysis.
Aim: To assess the left ventricular diastolic function in patients on haemodialysis.
Material and methods: We used 2D and pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography to evaluate the left ventricular diastolic function in 40 patients on haemodialysis and compared those to healthy controls.
Results: Majority of Doppler parameters were changed in patients on haemodialysis. Diastolic dysfunction was present in 77.5% patients. In comparison to the healthy controls haemodialysis patients showed significant increase in peak velocity of late diastolic filling, (A wave, 76.82 +/- 23.76 cm/s vs. 58.46 +/- 9.65 cm/s p < 0.001) and reduction in the E/A ratio (1.00 +/- 0.26 vs. 1.26 +/- 0.31 p < 0.001).
Conclusion: There was significant impairment in left ventricular diastolic function in patients on haemodialysis.