Elevated serum concentration of cardiac troponin I (cTnl) is a highly sensitive and specific marker of myocardial damage. Patients with chronic renal failure (crf) treated by hemodialysis often have increased serum cTnl level without evidence of acute myocardial ischemia. In chronic HD patients, elevated serum concentration of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and angiotensin II have been reported which may be associated with ischemic heart disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible association between cTnl serum level, ET-I, angiotensin II, other cardiac markers and the structural changes of myocardium assessed by echocardiographic (ECHO) method. Fifty nine patients with crf treated by HD were studied. ECHO and ECG examinations were performed in all patients and serum levels of cTnl, endothelin-1 (ET-1), angiotensin II were evaluated. In all patients left ventricular mass (LVM) was increased, and in 78% of patients was found concentric hypertrophy of the heart while in 22% excentric hypertrophy was found. In 54 patients there was no ECG changes and ST segment depression in V4-V6 leads, less than 1 mm was found in 5 patients. Arterial hypertension was found in 44 patients (75%), systolic and diastolic pressure was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in a control group. Increased serum level of cTnl was found in 12.0% of HD patients, increased serum level of endothelin-1 and angiotensin II were found in all patients. LVM in HD patients with elevated cTnl levels was significantly higher than in patients with normal cTnl concentration. There was a positive correlation between LVM and cTnl levels, and between angiotensin II serum concentration and cTnl levels and between ET-1 serum level and RWT.
In conclusion: our findings suggest that elevated cTnl serum level reflect left ventricular hypertrophy and/or myocardial ischemia in HD patients, and indicate that ET-1 and angiotensin II might be associated with these conditions.