Assessment of LV Function by Global Longitudinal Strain in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) exhibit an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with heart failure (HF) hospitalization being one of the most frequent cardiovascular events. Chronic pressure and volume overload as well as non-haemodynamic factors, such as oxidative stress and inappropriate rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation, lead to the development of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), calculated from two-dimensional echocardiography, is the most frequently used parameter to define LV systolic function, However, LVEF has been shown rather insensitive to the detection of LV systolic dysfunction, particularly in patients with CKD. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), assessed with two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography, may provide more detailed information on LV systolic function.