Ultrasonic Characterization (Integrated Backscatter) of Myocardial Tissue in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Objective: To study changes in myocardial wall texture in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients by ultrasonic integrated backscatter (IBS) analysis. Methods: Hypertensive and normotensive ADPKD patients, essential hypertension (EHP) patients and healthy volunteers were included in the study. All the subjects underwent conventional echocardiography and ultrasonic IBS of the myocardial wall. Both the calibrated IBS (C-IBS) and the systolic-diastolic cyclical variations in IBS (CV-IBS) were evaluated. Results: Mean C-IBS in hypertensive ADPKD patients was significantly higher than that in EHP patients and normotensive ADPKD patients. Mean C-IBS in normotensive ADPKD patients was significantly higher than that in healthy subjects. Mean CV-IBS in hypertensive ADPKD patients was significantly lower than that in EHP patients and normotensive ADPKD patients. Mean CV-IBS in normotensive ADPKD patients was significantly lower than that in healthy subjects. Multivariate analysis showed that the mean C-IBS was positively related to the systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI); mean CV-IBS was positively correlated with contractile performance and transmitral E/A ratio and inversely correlated with SBP, DBP and LVMI. Conclusions: ADPKD patients experienced myocardial interstitial collagen deposition and impairment to myocardial contractile performance, which were both aggravated by hypertension. IBS seems to be a useful tool for the assessment of myocardial changes in ADPKD patients.