Bone mineral density, vascular calcifications, and arterial stiffness in peritoneal dialysis patients.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation of bone mineral density (BMD), evaluated by DXA, with vascular calcifications, arterial stiffness, and vascular disease in patients on peritoneal dialysis. Vascular calcifications were evaluated by vascular calcification score on plain x ray, and arterial stiffness was measured by pulse wave velocity using the Complior device (Artech Medical, Pantin, France). Adjusting for multiple factors, lower BMD at the femoral neck, but not at the lumbar spine, was associated with higher pulse wave velocity (p = 0.037), higher vascular calcification score (p = 0.013), and peripheral artery disease (p = 0.006). These data reinforce the hypothesis of the existence of a link between bone disease and cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients.