Serum Uric Acid Correlation with Echocardiographic Indices in Children with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) is a myocardial disease characterized by dilated left ventricle or both ventricles and reduced contractility of the myocardium. In patients suffering from DCMP, the serum level of uric acid may increase. This research was designed to evaluate the effect of the serum level of uric acid on systolic and diastolic functions in patients with DCMP.

Methods: This case-control study was performed on 30 patients with DCMP aged between 1 month and 12 years who were consistent with a control group in terms of age and gender. Patients suffering from congenital and acquired cardiac, renal, metabolic, endocrine, musculoskeletal, neurologic, vascular, and hematologic diseases were excluded. After physical examination, chest X-ray, and electrocardiography, systolic and diastolic parameters were measured via echocardiography, and fasting serum uric acid level was measured. The data were analyzed using the t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results: The average age of the patients in the case and control groups was 7.28 and 7.13 years, respectively. There were 15 boys, and the rest were girls. The serum uric acid level in the case and control groups was 6.22 and 3.31 mg/dl, respectively; the difference was statistically significant (P value <0.01). There was a significant correlation between serum uric acid level and left ventricular isovolumic contraction, interventricular septal diameter, left ventricular septal diameter in diastole, and fractional shortening (P value <0.05).

Conclusion: In children with DCMP, the serum level of uric acid increases significantly and this increase is significantly correlated with some of left heart echocardiographic parameters. This test is of predictive value for disease progression.