Cardiovascular impairment and physical working capacity in children with chronic renal failure.

Forty children with chronic renal failure (CRF) on conservative treatment, on hemodialysis, or after renal transplantation and 22 children respresenting a non-uremic control group were subjected to repeated cardiologic examinations by ECG, PCG, chest X-rays and cycle ergometer exercise tests to monitor signs of uremic heart disease and to evaluate physical working capacity (W170). In the CRF group a progressive impairment of W170 was found, starting at an early stage of the disease. Exercise tolerance was inversely related to the degree of CRF.