Authors: Voroneanu L, Covic A
Despite substantial progress in dialysis patients' management, cardiovascular disease remains the major cause of death. Nearly half of deaths on dialysis are secondary to myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, malignant arrhythmias and other cardiac causes. The high prevalence of diabetes, anemia, hyperparathyroidism and hypertension among chronic dialysis patients fosters structural heart diseases. Moreover, fluid overload and metabolic abnormalities such as metabolic acidosis, dyskalemia and dysmagnesemia lead to an increased risk of clinically significant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is often characterized by the presence of sympathetic hyperactivity and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS...