| Theme |
Diagnosis and treatment for coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease in dialysis patients |
| Title |
Conservative treatment for valvular heart disease in dialysis patients |
| Author |
Satoshi Morimoto |
Department of Medicine II, Endocrinology and Hypertension, Tokyo Women's Medical University |
| Author |
Atsuhiro Ichihara |
Department of Medicine II, Endocrinology and Hypertension, Tokyo Women's Medical University |
| [ Summary ] |
Heart failure is the number one cause of death in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Valvular heart disease is one of the most important conditions leading to heart failure. Valvular diseases may be caused by valvular calcification in addition to age-related valvular degeneration. Surgical treatment is recommended for severe valvular heart diseases. Conservative treatment may be selected for patients with mild valvular heart disease or for patients with inoperable valvular heart disease. In conservative treatment, control of heart failure as well as prevention of progression of valvular calcification are important. In addition to control of blood sugar and blood pressure, prevention of drug induced hypercalcemia is recommended. It is also crucial to reestimate the efficacy of ongoing conservative treatment. It is also inportant to pay attention to determine the proper timing for surgical treatment by investigating the degree of valvular disease and cardiac function with echocardiography. |