Investigating the role of cardiovascular biomarkers in children with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease: a substitute to echocardiography to detect increased left ventricular mass?

Background: Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk of future cardiovascular (CV) events. Our aim in this prospective single-centre cross-sectional analysis was to assess the relationship of a novel panel of CV biomarkers with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

Methods: A panel of five CV biomarkers (asymmetric dimethyl arginine, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, homocysteine, N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide and uric acid) were measured on the same day as an echocardiogram assessment, in paediatric patients with pre-dialysis stages 3-5 of CKD.

Assessment of right ventricular volumes in hypoplastic left heart syndrome by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Accurate assessment of right ventricular (RV) volumes and function is important in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). We prospectively sought to determine the reproducibility of three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography and its agreement with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in HLHS.

Methods And Results: Twenty-eight patients underwent CMR followed immediately by transthoracic 3D echocardiography under general anaesthesia.

Systolic and diastolic ventricular function assessed by tissue Doppler imaging in children with chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk even during childhood. Tissue Doppler is a sensitive technique for the assessment of ventricular dysfunction with relatively little data available in children with CKD. We report a prospective cross-sectional echocardiographic study at a tertiary center.

Clinical application of a micro multiplane transoesophageal probe in congenital cardiac disease.

Aim: To assess the quality of imaging modalities of a new micro multiplane transoesophageal echocardiogram probe.

Method: This is a prospective study of micro transoesophageal echocardiogram S8-3t probe used at a single institution between 15 December, 2009 and 15 March, 2010. The images were compared with standard paediatric or adult probes where possible.

Blood pressure control and left ventricular mass in children with chronic kidney disease.

Background And Objectives: Heart disease is a major cause of death in young adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is common and is associated with hypertension. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether there is a relationship between LVH and BP in children with CKD and whether current targets for BP control are appropriate.

Electrocardiography is a poor screening test to detect left ventricular hypertrophy in children.

Background: Detection of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is clinically important because it can be predictive of adverse clinical outcome. However, the best method for detecting LVH in clinical practice is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate electrocardiography (ECG) compared with echocardiography (ECHO) as a screening test to detect LVH in a high risk population.

Incidence of left ventricular hypertrophy in children with kidney disease: impact of method of indexation of left ventricular mass.

Aims: Patients with chronic kidney disease are at high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) has been shown to be an adverse prognostic factor. LVM may be indexed for body size by different methods related to height, weight, or body surface area (BSA).