The impact of warfarin on the rate of progression of aortic stiffness in hemodialysis patients: a longitudinal study.

Background: Accelerated progression of aortic stiffness in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease is not well explained by the traditional cardiovascular risk factors. We hypothesized that vitamin K deficiency may result in an accelerated progression of aortic stiffness in the pro-calcifying uremic milieu.

Method: Eighteen hemodialysis (HD) patients on warfarin were matched to 54 HD patients without warfarin (control).

Advanced glycation end products, aortic stiffness, and wave reflection in peritoneal dialysis as compared to hemodialysis.

Background: Modification of vascular extracellular matrix by advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may result in vascular stiffness. Because of higher exposure to glucose, we hypothesized that patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) may have higher tissue levels of AGEs, increased vascular stiffness, and enhanced central augmentation pressure as compared to hemodialysis patients (HD).

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 43 PD were matched to 43 HD based on age, gender, diabetes, and dialysis vintage.

Determinants of progression of aortic stiffness in hemodialysis patients: a prospective longitudinal study.

Aortic stiffness is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, the rate of progression of arterial stiffness and the role of cardiovascular risk factors in the progression of arterial stiffness has never been established in a longitudinal study. In a prospective, longitudinal, observational study, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity were assessed in 109 hemodialysis patients at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 1.

Impact of dialysate calcium concentration on the progression of aortic stiffness in patients on haemodialysis.

Background: Higher dialysate calcium (DCa) can result in an acute and transient increase in arterial stiffness. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the impact of DCa on the progression of arterial stiffness, calcium balance and bone metabolism in haemodialysis (HD) patients over a 6-month period. Method.

Age-related and blood pressure-independent reduction in aortic stiffness after kidney transplantation.

Objectives: Aortic stiffness is a novel cardiovascular risk factor in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The purpose of the present study is to examine whether there is a blood pressure-independent improvement in aortic stiffness 3 months after successful kidney transplantation (KTx), and whether this improvement is age-dependent.

Method: In this prospective, longitudinal observational study, we studied hemodynamic and biological parameters prior to and 3 months after a KTx in 52 stage 5 CKD patients.

Effects of acute variation of dialysate calcium concentrations on arterial stiffness and aortic pressure waveform.

Background: Abnormal mineral metabolism in chronic kidney disease plays a critical role in vascular calcification and arterial stiffness. The impact of presently used dialysis calcium concentration (D(Ca)) on arterial stiffness and aortic pressure waveform has never been studied. The aim of the present study is to evaluate, in haemodialysis (HD) patients, the impact of acute modification of D(Ca) on arterial stiffness and central pulse wave profile (cPWP).

The impact of arteriovenous fistulas on aortic stiffness in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: The creation of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been shown to have adverse effects on their central pulse wave profile suggesting a likely increase in arterial stiffness. The aim of the present study was to directly evaluate the effect of AVF on arterial stiffness. Method.