The peculiarity of the cardiovascular risk profile and the increased arterial vulnerability in chronic kidney disease is well known in adults. It is attributed to the increased incidence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and the presence of other comorbidities related to the uremic condition. The present study aimed to determine the cardiovascular impact of the uremic condition in a paediatric population with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

From 2016 to 2018, 39 consecutive patients with CKD and who underwent echocardiographic evaluation were included. All echocardiographic examinations were done by the same operator. Demographic, clinical, biological and echocardiographic data were collected.

The mean age was 9.7±4.6 years. Twenty-four (61.5%) patients received hemodialysis (HD), 17 (43.6%) patients were in a peritoneal dialysis program of which 11 switched at a later stage to HD. Eight (20.5%) patients had arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and hypertension was present in 30 (76.9%). Myocardial hypertrophy was found in 13 (33.3%) patients. Dilatation of the ascending aorta (z score>2) was found in 17 (43.6%) patients and was statically (univariate analysis) related to gender, hypertension, the presence of AVF and the use of hemodialysis after peritoneal dialysis (P=0.016, P=0.001, P=0.0001, P=0.006 respectively).

In addition to classical and predictable abnormalities related to the the uremic condition such as myocardial hypertrophy, we found a high prevalence of dilatation of the ascending aorta. Some associated factors are highlighted.