title: Cardiac calcium evaluation in hemodialysis patients with multisection spiral computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is cardiac calcium content evaluation in hemodialysis patients by a new technique, based on ultrafast multisection CT (MTC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out on 30 HD patients, 14 F and 16 M, average age 57.7 +/- 13.9 years, average HD age 57.3 +/- 47.4 months. The intact PTH levels were 625.4 +/- 571 pg/mL. Serum calcium, phosphate and CaxP product were 9.75 +/- 0.84 mg/mL, 6.21 +/- 1.01 mg/dL and 60.2 +/- 10.7 mg2/dL2, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The values obtained with the MTC technique were reported in terms of Agatson scores. Score values frankly in the pathologic range (>100) were found in 24 patients (80%). Correlation analysis has shown positive and significant correlation coefficients of the score with patients' age (p = 0.003), serum calcium (p = 0.012), CaxP (p = 0.015), iPTH (p = 0.049), and borderline, to HD age (p = 0. 06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk factors for cardiac calcification are mainly age, degree of hyperparathyroidism, increased CaxP and serum calcium levels. A control of calcium phosphate parameters in hemodialysis patients seems to be mandatory to avoid increased severity of coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis Service, University Hospital Tor Vergata Rome, Italy. Splendiani@med.uniroma2.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Splendiani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morosetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jankovic
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naticchia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sturniolo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tullio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balducci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed