English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Multiple mechanisms have been identified contributing to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and it is one of the important sequelae of CKD and needs early detection. We wanted to study PAH in various stages of CKD and its association with renal and cardiovascular parameters. METHODS This was an observational study. PAH was diagnosed if mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) was ≥ 25 mmHg using 2D - Doppler echocardiography in 96 CKD patients. Staging of CKD was done as per Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stages 1 - 5. Age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, stages of CKD, corticomedullary differentiation (CMD), estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR), urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were included as risk factors. Data was analysed by calculating percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi square and t test. P value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. RESULTS PAH was detected in 37 (38.5 %) of CKD patients. Prevalence of PAH increased with stages of CKD being highest (59 %) in stage 5 and this was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.04). PAH was detected earliest in stage 2 (23.5 %). Lower mean eGFR ml / min / 1.733m2 (24.43 ± 17.8 vs 40.98 ± 25.7, P = 0.001) altered corticomedullary differentiation (50.9 % vs 20.5 % p = 0.003), reduced LVEF (81 % vs 26.7 % P = 0.000) and LVH (65 % vs 19.6 %, P = 0.000) were significantly associated with PAH in CKD patients. CONCLUSIONS PAH in CKD patients increases with CKD stages. Onset of PAH in CKD patients may be earlier and significantly associated with left ventricular dysfunction. KEYWORDS Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease, Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy