Cardiac MRI measurements of pericardial adipose tissue volumes in patients on in-centre nocturnal hemodialysis.

Abstract

Conversion from conventional hemodialysis (CHD) to in-centre nocturnal hemodialysis (INHD) is associated with left ventricular (LV) mass regression, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Using cardiac MRI (CMR), we examined the effects of INHD on epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and paracardial adipose tissue (PAT), and the relationships between EAT, PAT and LV remodeling, biomarkers of nutrition, myocardial injury, fibrosis and volume. We conducted a prospective multicenter cohort study of 37 patients transitioned from CHD to INHD and 30 patients on CHD (control). Biochemical markers and CMR were performed at baseline and 52weeks. CMR images were analyzed by independent readers, blinded to order and treatment group. Among 64 participants with complete CMR studies at baseline (mean age 54; 43% women), there were no significant differences in EAT index(60.6 ± 4.3mL/m2 vs 64.2 ± 5.1mL/m2, p = 0.99) or PATindex (60.0 ± 5.4mL/m2 vs 53.2 ± 5.9mL/m2, p = 0.42) between INHD and CHD groups. Over 52weeks, EATindex and PAT indexdid not change significantly in INHD and CHD groups (p = 0.21 and 0.14, respectively), and the changes in EATindex and PATindex did not differ significantly between INHD and CHD groups (p = 0.30 and 0.16, respectively). Overall, changes in EAT indexinversely correlated with changes in LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) but not LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), LV mass index (LVMI), and LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Changes in PATindex inversely correlated with changes in LVESVI, LVMI and positively correlated with changes in LVEF. There were no correlations between changes in EAT indexor PAT indexwith changes in albumin, LDL, triglycerides, troponin-I, FGF-23, or NT-proBNP levels over 52weeks (all p > 0.30). INHD was not associated with any changes in EATindex and PATindex over 12months. Changes in EATindex were not significantly associated with changes in markers of LV remodeling, nutrition, myocardial injury, fibrosis, volume status. In contrast, changes in PATindex, which paradoxically is expected to exert less paracrine effect on the myocardium, were correlated with changes in LVESVI, LVMI and LVEF. Larger and longer-term studies may clarify the role of PAT in cardiac remodeling with intensified hemodialysis. CLINICALTRIALS. NCT00718848.