Determinants of left ventricular mass and hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Background And Objectives: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for premature cardiovascular death in hemodialysis (HD) patients and one of the three forms of uremic cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a volume-independent technique to assess cardiac structure. We used CMR to assess the determinants of left ventricular mass (LVM) and LVH in HD patients.

Gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: retrospective study of a renal replacement therapy cohort.

Purpose: To retrospectively compare the frequency of administration and cumulative dose of gadolinium-based contrast agent in dialysis-dependent patients who did and those who did not develop nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

Materials And Methods: The ethics committees granted exempt status for this study and also waived the need for informed consent. A retrospective analysis was performed of all adult patients undergoing dialysis in the west of Scotland between January 1, 2000, and July 1, 2006.