Atherosclerosis in Patients with End-Stage Renal Failure Prior to Initiation of Hemodialysis

Abstract

Background. In dialysis patients cardiovascular mortality is 10 to 20 times higher than in general population. It remains uncertain whether atherosclerosis of dialysis patients is effectively accelerated because many of dialysis patients have more or less marked vascular lesions already at the start of dialysis treatment. Subjects and methods. Using B-mode ultrasonography (ATL HDI 3000), we compared intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque occurrence (indicators of atherosclerosis) in the common carotid arteries (CC), in the area of bifurcation (CB) and in the proximal part of internal carotid arteries (CI) in 28 hemodialysis patients (14 men and 14 women; mean age 49.4 years; mean duration of HD treatment 66.6 months) with that in 28 age-sex matched patients prior to initiation of hemodialysis. We also investigated possible differences in atherosclerotic risk factors in both groups. Results. The IMT values of CC (0.71 vs. 0.70 mm; p = 0.937), CB (0.81 vs. 0.77 mm; p = 0,423) and CI (0.72 vs. 0.71 mm; p = 0.935) were not significantly different in dialysis patients and patients starting dialysis treatment. We also found no difference in plaque occurrence (61% vs. 54%; p = 0.787) and in atherosclerotic risk factors (hypertension, smoking, lipids) between both groups. Conclusions. In our study we found no difference in atherosclerotic lesions in carotid arteries between dialysis patients and patients with end-stage renal failure starting dialysis treatment. Patients with chronic renal failure are at high risk for cardiovascular diseases so we should intervene earlier and more actively long before dialysis treatment in order to reduce the atherosclerotic risk factors.

• Atherosclerosis
• Cardiovascular disease
• Chronic renal failure
• Dialysis
• Risk factors
• Ultrasound