Background: Cardiac hypertrophy frequently is found in children with a renal transplant. In adults with a transplant, left ventricular (LV) mass (LVM) is associated with cardiac dysfunction. However, in children with a transplant, the relationship between LVM and LV function has not been evaluated.
Methods: Twenty-nine children who underwent transplantation and 33 controls had echocardiographic evaluations during rest and peak exercise. LV contractility was determined based on the relation between heart rate-corrected velocity of circumferential fiber shortening and end-systolic wall stress. Contractile reserve was assessed by the difference between contractility at rest and peak exercise. Early diastole was assessed using indices of LV relaxation derived from transmitral and tissue Doppler and reported as maximal early (E wave) and late (A wave) wave ratio (E-A ratio) and septal mitral annular velocities (Em). Late diastole was determined using an index of LV compliance (E-Em ratio).
Results: Compared with controls, children with a transplant had a significantly greater LVM index (P < 0.001) and high prevalence of LV hypertrophy (LVH; 55%). Transplant recipients had increased LV contractility (P < 0.001). Contractile reserve was similar to that of controls. Patients with a transplant had a lower E-A ratio and Em (P < 0.01 for both variables) and higher E-Em ratio (P < 0.001) than controls. In children with a transplant, LVM index was a significant independent predictor for both abnormal LV relaxation (Em; P = 0.03) and abnormal LV compliance (E-Em ratio; P = 0.02).
Conclusion: Results show impaired cardiac structure and diastolic function in pediatric renal allograft recipients. This suggests that LVH may be a risk factor for diastolic dysfunction in these children.