PURPOSE: Arterial media calcification (AMC) is often the only vascular calcification (VC) present in young patients with chronic renal failure and its presence is associated with higher mortality rates. Currently, X-ray imaging (as a standard approach) is able to show AMC in areas without diffuse overlapping arterial intimal calcification (AIC), but X-ray imaging only allows us to identify this lesion when the vessel is widely calcified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using ultrasonography as opposed to X-rays to visualize AMC in patients with chronic renal failure. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we examined 105 patients (chronic kidney disease stage IV: 19 patients, hemodialysis: 48 patients, renal transplant: 26 patients; mean age: 54 ± 14 years; 65 males and 40 females); B-mode ultrasonography was performed to detect AMC or AIC on the superficial femoral artery (SFA). As a control, plain radiography of the thigh was performed in all patients. RESULTS: Upon ultrasonography investigation, 12 subjects were excluded due to diffuse VC on the SFA that did not permit a distinction between AMC and AIC. In the remaining 93 patients, AMC was detected on the SFA in 43 patients using ultrasonography and in 20 patients using the standard approach. The sensitivity and specificity of the standard approach for the detection of AMC on the SFA were 47 and 100%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values of the standard approach were 1 and 0.68, respectively. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is able to detect AMC better than the X-ray approach, focusing on individuals at higher risk.
PURPOSE: Arterial media calcification (AMC) is often the only vascular calcification (VC) present in young patients with chronic renal failure and its presence is associated with higher mortality rates. Currently, X-ray imaging (as a standard approach) is able to show AMC in areas without diffuse overlapping arterial intimal calcification (AIC), but X-ray imaging only allows us to identify this lesion when the vessel is widely calcified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using ultrasonography as opposed to X-rays to visualize AMC in patients with chronic renal failure. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we examined 105 patients (chronic kidney disease stage IV: 19 patients, hemodialysis: 48 patients, renal transplant: 26 patients; mean age: 54 ± 14 years; 65 males and 40 females); B-mode ultrasonography was performed to detect AMC or AIC on the superficial femoral artery (SFA). As a control, plain radiography of the thigh was performed in all patients. RESULTS: Upon ultrasonography investigation, 12 subjects were excluded due to diffuse VC on the SFA that did not permit a distinction between AMC and AIC. In the remaining 93 patients, AMC was detected on the SFA in 43 patients using ultrasonography and in 20 patients using the standard approach. The sensitivity and specificity of the standard approach for the detection of AMC on the SFA were 47 and 100%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values of the standard approach were 1 and 0.68, respectively. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is able to detect AMC better than the X-ray approach, focusing on individuals at higher risk.
Authors: Andreana De Mauri; Marco Brambilla; Doriana Chiarinotti; Roberta Matheoud; Alessandro Carriero; Martino De Leo Journal: J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2011-02-25 Impact factor: 10.121
Authors: Mario Cozzolino; Andrea Galassi; Maria Luisa Biondi; Olivia Turri; Sergio Papagni; Nicola Mongelli; Luigi Civita; Maurizio Gallieni; Diego Brancaccio Journal: Am J Nephrol Date: 2006-09-12 Impact factor: 3.754
Authors: Rukshana C Shroff; Rosamund McNair; Nichola Figg; Jeremy N Skepper; Leon Schurgers; Ashmeet Gupta; Melanie Hiorns; Ann E Donald; John Deanfield; Lesley Rees; Catherine M Shanahan Journal: Circulation Date: 2008-10-06 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Flávio Augusto Teixeira Ronzani; Filomena Maria Kirchmaier; Nathália Mussi Monteze; Edson José de Carvalho Magacho; Marcus Gomes Bastos; Natália Maria da Silva Fernandes Journal: Radiol Bras Date: 2017 Mar-Apr