Abstract Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy is the most common structural cardiac alteration in chronic dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to determine the possible association of endotelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) with parameters of echocardiography in order to assess their participation in left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods: This prospective longitudinal study included 40 PD patients. Serum levels of ET-1 and NO baseline and after 12 months of PD treatment were measured and compared with echocardiography parameters done at the same time of PD treatment. Linear regression analysis was used to detect independent correlations of variables. Results: Mean ET-1 serum concentration decreased significantly after 12 months of PD treatment compared to baseline values (p < 0.01). NO serum concentration increased significantly 12 months after treatment compared to baseline values (p < 0.01). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was observed in 72.5% of patients at baseline with significant reduction in LV mass index after 12 months of PD treatment (p < 0.001). On linear regression analysis serum concentration of ET-1 was independent predictors of LV mass index, as well as NO at the end of observed period. Conclusions: According to our data ET-1 and NO are independently related to the process of left ventricular remodeling in PD patients

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the leading cause of the end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Vascular diseases are the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in the chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment on morphologic and hemodynamic vascular parameters of carotid arteries in diabetic type 2 and nondiabetic patients with ESRD during the period of one year after the start of PD treatment using ultrasonography of carotid arteries and their relation on uremia and PD inherent factors. Mean intima-media thickness, plaque score, peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, and carotid diameter significantly decreased 12 months after PD treatment start in both groups. Significant reduction in median serum endothelin-1 concentration after 12 months on PD treatment was observed in the group of patients with DM (7.6–5.9 pg/mL) and also in group of patients without DM (3.6–3.3 pg/mL). Also median nitric oxide concentration significantly increased after 12 months on PD compared to baseline levels both in patients with DM (25.0–34.3 μmol/L) as was observed in patients without DM (49.6–56.5 μmol/L). PD treatment, with the regulation of these vasoactive molecules and other vascular risk factors, significantly contributes to vascular remodeling, especially in DM patients.