Altered vascular function in chronic kidney disease: evidence from passive leg movement.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease and is characterized by reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and vascular dysfunction, typically assessed using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). It has been previously reported that passive leg movement (PLM)-induced hyperemia, an assessment of lower extremity vascular function, is highly dependent on NO, but has not yet been utilized to assess vascular function in patients with CKD. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively assess vascular function in patients with CKD using PLM, in addition to the traditional FMD technique.