Changes in echocardiographic parameters after hemodialysis session in a North African pediatric population with end-stage renal disease and without known heart disease

Children undergoing long-term hemodialysis (HD) face a reduction in life expectancy mostly due to cardiovascular mortality. Effects of HD on cardiac function have not been fully elucidated in pediatric population. This study aimed to assess HD session impact on cardiac function in pediatric patients using conventional and strain echocardiography. We performed a prospective, comparative study of echocardiographic parameters before and after single HD session in a chronic HD pediatric population. We enrolled between the 1st and 30th September 2023, all consecutive patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) aged up to 18 years old on maintenance HD three times weekly for at least three months. All patients underwent conventional and left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain echocardiography in a window of 30-60 minutes before and after HD. 23 patients, 14.8 ± 2.1 years old and 47.8% male, were enrolled. Reductions in body weight and blood pressure were observed after HD, whereas heart rate increased. Significant decrease in LV and left atrial diameters and volumes after HD session were observed. Mitral peak E velocity, as well as average E/e' were significantly lower after HD. Although LV ejection fraction was unchanged, global longitudinal strain for LV was significantly reduced after dialysis (-17.3 ± 3.0% vs. -14.9 ± 2.4%, p=4.10-8). Patent deterioration in LV systolic function following HD was identified by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). STE has the potential to unmask early myocardial dysfunction even when there is no evident alteration in conventional systolic function parameters in children with ESRD.