Coronary microcirculation and left ventricular diastolic function but not myocardial deformation indices are impaired early in patients with chronic kidney disease

Aim: To investigate abnormalities in myocardial strain and classic echocardiographic indices and coronary flow reserve (CFR), in younger versus older CKD patients.

Methods: Sixty consecutive CKD patients (<60 years old n = 30, ≥60 years old n = 30) and 30 healthy controls (age- and gender-matched with younger CKD patients) were recruited. An echocardiographic assessment including myocardial strain indices (i.e. global longitudinal strain -GLS -, TWIST, UNTWIST rate) was performed at baseline and following dipyridamole administration in all participants.

Results: Younger CKD patients had higher E/e', left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness and lower E' (p < .005 for all) compared to healthy controls. Older CKD patients had lower E/A and E' (p < .05 for both) compared to younger CKD patients; these differences did not remain significant after adjustment for age. CFR was higher in healthy controls compared to younger and older CKD patients (p < .05 for both) without a significant difference between CKD groups. There were no significant differences in GLS, TWIST or UNTWIST values among the three groups of patients. Dipyridamole-induced changes did not differ significantly among the three groups.

Conclusions: Compared to healthy controls, impaired coronary microcirculation and left ventricular diastolic function, but not myocardial strain abnormalities, are found in young CKD patients and deteriorate with aging.