Abstract: Objective  To evaluate the changes of brachial artery elasticity by echo- tracking technique and left ventricular Tei Index obtained by tissue Doppler imaging in patients undergoing hemodialysis, and to evaluate the correlation between two parameters.
Methods  We randomly selected 55 patients with autologous internal arteriovenous fistula(IAF) undergoing hemodialysis, and 40 healthy subjects were recruited as controls. The parameters of brachial artery elasticity, including stiffness parameter(β), elastic coefficient(Eρ), compliance(AC), pulse wave velocity(PWVβ), swelling index(AI), were measured by ET technique; in the meantime, left ventricular function was measured by tissue Doppler ultrasound， including isovolumic contraction time(ICT), isovolemic diastolic time(IRT)， and ejection time(ET). Tei index(ICT+IRT)/ET, isometric contraction index ICT/ET and isometric relaxation index IRT/ET were calculated.
Results  ①The levels of β, Ｅρ, and PWVβ were higher in the hemodialysis group than in the normal control group, while the AC was lower in the hemodialysis group than in the normal control group(P＜0.05). No significant difference was found in AI between two groups(P＞0.05). ②The levels of IRT/ET and Tei index were higher in the dialysis group than in the normal control group(P＜0.05), whereas no significant difference was found in the ICT/ET and ET between two groups(P＞0.05). ③Correlation analysis showed that IRT/ET in hemodialysis group was positively correlated with arterial elastic indexes including β,Ｅρ, and PWVβ(r=0.789, 0.777, 0.739, P＜0.05) , while IRT/ET in hemodialysis group was negatively correlated with AC(r=-0.442， P＜0.05). Tei Index was positively correlated with β, Ｅρ and PWVβ(r=0.667, 0.617, 0.979, P＜0.05).
Conclusion  Ultrasound could be used to detect the changes of arterial elastic function and left ventricular function in patients undergoing hemodialysis,  and the changes of arterial elastic function are positively correlated with the changes of left ventricular diastolic function. The global function of the left ventricle decreased with the decrease of vascular elasticity, and the decrease of diastolic function of the left ventricle is more significant. The changes of brachial artery elasticity after fistulectomy can be used to predict the risk of cardiovascular complications, and the intervention process of heart and vascular disease should be performed early and effectively, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality of patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing hemodialysis.

Key words: arteriovenous fistula, arterial elasticity, echo-tracking technique, left ventricular Tei index