Screening of vascular calcifications in patients with end-stage renal diseases.

Vascular calcifications (VC) are a major contributor to the massively increased mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The present study aimed to detect arterial media and intima calcifications in HD patients and to evaluate potential risk factors. 214 patients aged 59.0 +/- 11.0 years on HD for 6.39 +/- 4.59 years were studied. VC were scored based on to plain radiographs. Potential risk factors were assessed. Out of the 214 patients studied, only 14% did not display any detectable VC. Using plain radiographs calcifications could be detected in 136 (63.6%) patients. Calcified plaques on carotid arteries were detected in 168 (78.4%) patients. There was the highest frequency of patients with the most pronounced calcifications. Calcifications of heart valves were detected in 89 (44.1%) patients. Univariante analysis indicate that risk to develop VC is present in older patients, patients with longer dialysis vintage, thicker intima media, higher lumen diameter and mitral valve calcifications. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed these factors as independent predictors of VC in dialysis patients. Our data confirm a high prevalence of VC in HD patients, their association with older ages, longer dialysis vintage, and presence of valvular calcifications and early markers of atherosclerosis.