Cardiac calcium evaluation in hemodialysis patients with multisection spiral computed tomography.
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.
Splendiani
G
G
Department of Nephrology and Dialysis Service, University Hospital Tor Vergata Rome, Italy. Splendiani@med.uniroma2.it
Morosetti
M
M
Manni
M
M
Jankovic
L
L
Naticchia
A
A
Sturniolo
A
A
Tullio
T
T
Balducci
A
A
Coen
G
G
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