Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Like Weak Inducer of Apoptosis and Vitamin D in Hemodialysis Patients: Relation to Carotid Intima-Media Thickness.

Cardiovascular disease, as the leading cause of patient death with chronic kidney disease, could be predicted by carotid atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible relationship between serum soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) and Vitamin D levels with mean right/left carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), in the hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this cross-sectional study, serums were obtained from 50 stable chronic HD patients and 39 healthy controls.

Renal artery stenosis and its predictors in hypertensive patients undergoing coronary artery angiography.

Background: Renal artery stenosis (RAS) has been increasingly recognized in the recent years, especially in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). RAS affects the patients with hypertension (HTN), but the exact prevalence is not known.

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the prevalence and to identify the predictors of RAS in hypertensive patients undergoing coronary artery angiography.