Chest and Cardiac Findings on High-Resolution Computed Tomography in Children on Regular Hemodialysis with Abnormal Spirometry

Objective: To study the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of children on hemodialysis with abnormal spirometry.

Methods: This descriptive study included 25 children with chronic kidney disease on regular hemodialysis. They were selected from a pediatric hemodialysis unit during the period from June 2015 to January 2016. Spirometry was done, and those with abnormal values were assessed by HRCT of the chest and echocardiography.

Results: Among 25 children with abnormal spirometry on regular hemodialysis, there was a decrease in spirometric indices in patients on hemodialysis with a tendency to the restrictive pattern (19 patients; 76%). The following HRCT findings were detected: bilateral mild lower-lobe air trapping (centrilobular emphysema) in 14 patients (56%), diffuse bilateral ground-glass appearance in 2 patients (8%), mild hilar and perihilar bronchiectasis in 5 patients (20%), and cardiomegaly in 3 patients (12%).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that HRCT revealed many pathological findings that could not be detected on the chest X-ray, and some of these findings may explain the abnormal indications observed on spirometry.