The incidence and significance of increased backscatter in myocardial ultrasonography of patients on hemodialysis

Abstract

Ultrasonic backscatter is substantially modified by pathologic changes in myocardium. To define the incidence and significance of increased backscatter in myocardial ultrasonography of patients on chronic hemodialysis, 41 patients (aged 9-63 years) and 20 healthy controls were studied with conventional two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography and with analysis of integrated backscatter. Increased histogram values were found in all patients especially in those whose two-dimensional echocardiographic examinations revealed mitral annular calcification (n = 3), aortic valve calcification (n = 2) and aortic plus mitral annular calcification (n = 1). It was concluded that ultrasonographic-integrated backscatter may be a useful method for early identification of cardiac calcification in uremic patients.