Impact of vascular calcifications on arteriovenous fistula survival in hemodialysis patients: a five-year follow-up.

Background/aims: Vascular calcifications are frequently found among dialysis patients, and the calcification process may influence the patient's outcome. The aim of the present study was to determine the role that vascular calcifications may have on autologous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) survival.

Methods: This study included 90 patients (49 males, mean age 62 ± 11) with a native AVF treated by chronic hemodialysis (HD) for more than one year.

Early rapid loss followed by long-term consolidation characterizes the development of lumbar bone mineral density after kidney transplantation.

Background: Bone mineral density (BMD) decreases significantly early after renal transplantation. This prospective study was designed to evaluate the long-term lumbar BMD development.

Methods: Sixty-three renal-transplant recipients (mean age 44 +/- 12 years, 37 [59%] male) underwent serial yearly posttransplant laboratory parameter and BMD measurements of the lumbar spine (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry).