Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly associated with unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes and remains the leading cause of mortality in individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Despite substantial knowledge about the impact of CKD on the left heart, the right heart, which holds significant clinical relevance, has often been overlooked and inadequately assessed in ESRD patients who have undergone kidney transplant (KTx). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of KTx on the right heart chambers in ESRD patients. 57 adult KTx candidates were enrolled in this prospective longitudinal study, while 49 of them were included in the final assessment. Patients underwent a comprehensive cardiac assessment, including conventional echocardiography, speckle tracking echocardiography, and three-dimensional heart modeling both before and after surgery. Echocardiographic assessments showed significant increases in right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction, RV fractional area change (RVFAC), tricuspid annular plain systolic excursion, RV fractional shortening, right atrial (RA) reservoir, conduit, and booster strains, and RV global longitudinal strain (RVGLS). Moreover, significant reductions in RV end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), RV end-systolic volume (RVESV), RV stroke volume, RV end-diastolic diameter (RVEDD) in mid-cavity view, systolic pulmonary artery pressure was observed (all P values < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in S velocity, as well as RVEDD in basal and apex-to-annulus view. Moreover, pre-KTx measurements of RVGLS, RVEDD (apex-to-annulus diameter), RV fractional shortening, and S velocity were predictors of RVGLS after KTx. RA conduit strain was also identified as a predictor of RA conduit strain after KTx. Additionally, age, RVEDV, RVESV, RVFAC, and RA reservoir strain before KTx were identified as independent predictors of RA reservoir strain after KTx. The findings of this study demonstrate a significant improvement in right heart function following KTx. Furthermore, strain analysis can provide valuable insights for predicting right heart function after KTx.
Graphical Abstract
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rodger RS (2012) Approach to the management of endstage renal disease. Clin Med (Lond) 12(5):472–475
Wouk N (2021) End-stage renal disease: Medical Management. Am Fam Physician 104(5):493–499
O’Shaughnessy MM et al (2015) Differences in initial treatment modality for end-stage renal disease among glomerulonephritis subtypes in the USA. Nephrol Dialysis Transplantation 31(2):290–298
Johansen KL et al (2021) US Renal Data System 2020 Annual Data Report: epidemiology of kidney disease in the United States. Am J Kidney Dis 77(4 Suppl 1):A7–a8
Navaneethan SD et al (2015) Cause-specific deaths in non-dialysis-dependent CKD. J Am Soc Nephrol 26(10):2512–2520
Stack AG, Saran R (2002) Clinical correlates and mortality impact of left ventricular hypertrophy among new ESRD patients in the United States. Am J Kidney Dis 40(6):1202–1210
Foley RN et al (1995) The prognostic importance of left ventricular geometry in uremic cardiomyopathy. J Am Soc Nephrol 5(12):2024–2031
Hamidi S et al (2018) The effect of kidney transplantation on speckled tracking echocardiography findings in patients on hemodialysis. J Cardiovasc Thorac Res 10(2):90–94
Hewing B et al (2016) Improved left ventricular structure and function after successful kidney transplantation. Kidney Blood Press Res 41(5):701–709
Hawwa N et al (2015) Reverse remodeling and prognosis following kidney transplantation in contemporary patients with Cardiac Dysfunction. J Am Coll Cardiol 66(16):1779–1787
London G (2001) Pathophysiology of cardiovascular damage in the early renal population. Nephrol Dial Transpl 16(Suppl 2):3–6
Schärer K, Schmidt KG, Soergel M (1999) Cardiac function and structure in patients with chronic renal failure. Pediatr Nephrol 13(9):951–965
Drogalis-Kim D et al (2016) Right sided heart failure and pulmonary hypertension: new insights into disease mechanisms and treatment modalities. Prog Pediatr Cardiol 43:71–80
Devasahayam J et al (2020) Pulmonary hypertension in end-stage renal disease. Respir Med 164:105905
Bozbas SS et al (2011) Renal transplant improves pulmonary hypertension in patients with end stage renal disease. Multidiscip Respir Med 6(3):155–160
Badano LP et al (2018) Standardization of left atrial, right ventricular, and right atrial deformation imaging using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography: a consensus document of the EACVI/ASE/Industry Task Force to standardize deformation imaging. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 19(6):591–600
Nagata Y et al (2017) Prognostic value of right ventricular ejection Fraction assessed by transthoracic 3D Echocardiography. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 10(2):e005384
Leibundgut G et al (2010) Dynamic assessment of right ventricular volumes and function by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography: a comparison study with magnetic resonance imaging in 100 adult patients. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 23(2):116–126
Lang RM et al (2012) EAE/ASE recommendations for image acquisition and display using three-dimensional echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 25(1):3–46
Koo TK, Li MY (2016) A Guideline of selecting and reporting Intraclass correlation coefficients for Reliability Research. J Chiropr Med 15(2):155–163
Karavelioğlu Y et al (2015) Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular functions in nondiabetic normotensive hemodialysis patients. Interv Med Appl Sci 7(3):95–101
Haddad F et al (2008) Right ventricular function in cardiovascular disease, part II: pathophysiology, clinical importance, and management of right ventricular failure. Circulation 117(13):1717–1731
Paneni F et al (2010) Right ventricular dysfunction in patients with end-stage renal disease. Am J Nephrol 32(5):432–438
Lee JH, Park JH (2018) Strain analysis of the right ventricle using two-dimensional Echocardiography. J Cardiovasc Imaging 26(3):111–124
Khani M et al (2020) Effect of kidney transplantation on right ventricular function, assessment by 2- dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. Cardiovasc Ultrasound 18(1):16
Ladányi Z et al (2023) Get to the heart of pediatric kidney transplant recipients: evaluation of left- and right ventricular mechanics by three-dimensional echocardiography. Front Cardiovasc Med 10:1094765
Arslan A et al (2023) Cardiac function in children after kidney transplant. Exp Clin Transpl 21(1):16–21
Hashi AA et al (2021) Cardiac MRI assessment of the right ventricle pre-and post-kidney transplant. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 37(5):1757–1766
Cai S et al (2022) Assessments of right ventricular strain using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging following kidney transplantation. Nephrol (Carlton) 27(4):371–375
Tang M et al (2018) Pulmonary hypertension, mortality, and Cardiovascular Disease in CKD and ESRD patients: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. Am J Kidney Dis 72(1):75–83
Yigla M et al (2009) Pulmonary hypertension is an independent predictor of mortality in hemodialysis patients. Kidney Int 75(9):969–975
Reque J et al (2016) Pulmonary hypertension is Associated with Mortality and Cardiovascular events in chronic kidney Disease patients. Am J Nephrol 45(2):107–114
Ravanshad S et al (2022) Comparison of pulmonary artery pressure before and after kidney transplantation in kidney transplant patients with pulmonary hypertension. ARYA Atherosclerosis J 18(November):1–6
Casas-Aparicio G et al (2010) The effect of successful kidney transplantation on ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Transpl Proc 42(9):3524–3528
Modin D et al (2019) Right ventricular function evaluated by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion predicts Cardiovascular Death in the General Population. J Am Heart Association 8(10):e012197
Sanders P et al (2003) Electrical remodeling of the atria in congestive heart failure: electrophysiological and electroanatomic mapping in humans. Circulation 108(12):1461–1468
Sanders P et al (2004) Electrophysiological and electroanatomic characterization of the atria in sinus node disease: evidence of diffuse atrial remodeling. Circulation 109(12):1514–1522
Stiles MK et al (2009) Paroxysmal lone atrial fibrillation is associated with an abnormal atrial substrate: characterizing the second factor. J Am Coll Cardiol 53(14):1182–1191
Hoit BD (2005) Assessing Atrial Mechanical Remodeling and its consequences. Circulation 112(3):304–306
Vakilian F et al (2021) Right atrial strain in the Assessment of Right Heart Mechanics in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. J Cardiovasc Imaging 29(2):135–143
Wright LM et al (2018) Association with right atrial strain with right atrial pressure: an invasive validation study. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 34(10):1541–1548
Gaynor SL et al (2005) Reservoir and conduit function of right atrium: impact on right ventricular filling and cardiac output. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 288(5):H2140–H2145
Peluso D et al (2013) Right atrial size and function assessed with three-dimensional and speckle-tracking echocardiography in 200 healthy volunteers. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 14(11):1106–1114
Sun Z-Y et al (2023) Echocardiographic evaluation of the right atrial size and function: relevance for clinical practice. Am Heart J Plus: Cardiol Res Pract, : p. 100274
Meucci MC et al (2023) Left atrial structural and functional response in kidney transplant recipients treated with mesenchymal stromal cell therapy and early Tacrolimus Withdrawal. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 36(2):172–179
Bolignano D et al (2013) Pulmonary hypertension in CKD. Am J Kidney Dis 61(4):612–622
Wali RK et al (2005) Effect of kidney transplantation on left ventricular systolic dysfunction and congestive heart failure in patients with end-stage renal disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 45(7):1051–1060
Hung J et al (1980) Uremic cardiomyopathy–effect of hemodialysis on left ventricular function in end-stage renal failure. N Engl J Med 302(10):547–551
Herod JW, Ambardekar AV (2014) Right ventricular systolic and diastolic function as assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography improve with prolonged isolated left ventricular assist device support. J Card Fail 20(7):498–505
Dandel M et al (2020) Accurate assessment of right heart function before and after long-term left ventricular assist device implantation. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 18(5):289–308
Kang MK (2021) Right atrial strain as a surrogate marker for right ventricular function in patients with heart failure. J Cardiovasc Imaging 29(2):144–146
Acknowledgements
Not applicable.
Funding
Not applicable.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
MK and TA designed the study. AM worked on proper statistical analysis of the data. TA and SPSM collected the data. EG outlined, drafted, and contributed to the writing of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the preparation of the draft, reviewed, and approved the final edition of the manuscript.
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval
The Research Ethics Committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences reviewed and approved this study (IR.SBMU.retech.1401.291).
Consent to participate
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Consent to publication
The authors affirm that human research participants provided informed consent for publication of the images in all Figures.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Khani, M., Moradi, A., Ghadirzadeh, E. et al. Improvement in right heart function following kidney transplantation in esrd patients: insights from speckle tracking echocardiography analysis. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-024-03103-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-024-03103-0