Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the relationship between microinflammation and changes of cardiac structure and function in maintenance hemodialysis (NHD) patients. Methods We recruited 48 patients on maintenance hemodialysis in this blood purification center, and 20 normal individuals as the controls. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Cardiac structure and function were evaluated by ultrasonic cardiography. Results Serum hs-CRP, IL-6, left ventricular dimension (LVD), left atrial dimension (LAD), interventricular septum thickness (IVST) and left ventricular dimension posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) were significantly higher in MHD patients than in controls (p<0.01). Serum hs-CRP and IL-6 were positively correlated with the values of LAD, LVD, IVST and LVPWT in MHD patients. Doppler echocardiology showed that 80% of the MHD patients had heart diastolic dysfunction. Conclusion MHD patients had higher serum hs-CRP and IL-6, which may correlate with the changes of cardiac structures.

Key words: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Cardiac structure, Cardiac function