OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long-term effects of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) on heamodynamic changes and cardiac structure and function in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients.

METHODSData were collected from 50 non-diabetic hemodialysis patients (aged 18 to 60 years) who had used AVF as the vascular access. AVF flow (Qa), stoke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), central blood volume (CBV) and peripheral vascular resistance (PR) were measured using the ultrasound dilution technique. Echocardiography was performed in the second day after hemodialysis sessions to evaluate the influence of AVF on the cardiac structure and function.

RESULTSThe cubic polynomial regression model best fit the relationships of Qa with SV, CO, and CI. CO and CI significantly increased and PR reduced when the Qa of AVF was more than 2.0 L/min(all P<0.05), and no statistical difference of CO, CI and PR in groups of Qa between 0.6-2.0 L/min and less than 0.6 L/min(all P>0.05). In different Qa groups, the grades of cardiac function (based on New York Heart Association classification) showed significant difference, among which the cardiac failure was significantly common when Qa >2.0 L/min(both P<0.05). Echocardiography showed the left atrium dimension, thickness of posterior wall and interventricular seprum of left ventricle, left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) and end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), venae cava inferior, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure gradually increased when Qa increased, while the ejection fraction and fractional shortening reduced(all P<0.05). Notably, the changes of LVESD, LVEDD, and venae cava inferior with different Qa were statistically significant(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLong-term AVF remarkably affects the cardiovascular dynamics of non-diabetic hemodialysis patients. A cubic polynomial regression model best fits the relationship of AVF Qa with SV, CO, and CI. The cardiac adaptic changes after long-term AVF include the enlargement of left ventricle and the thickening of ventricular wall. The risk of cardiac failure significantly increases when the Qa of AVF is more than 2.0 L/min with much higher CO and lower PR.