Background: Measures of aortic stiffness--aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx)--have been shown to be powerful predictors of survival in adult haemodialysis (HD) patients. Very few data have been reported regarding arterial stiffness in paediatric renal populations.
Methods: PWV and aortic AIx were determined from contour analysis of arterial waveforms recorded by applanation tonometry using a SphygmoCor device in 14 children on HD (age = 14.