title: The value of computed tomography-derived coronary artery calcification score in coronary artery disease detection in asymptomatic hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the value of coronary artery calcification (CAC) score in coronary artery disease (CAD) detection in asymptomatic hemodialysis (HD) patients by evaluating the association among CAC score, exercise electrocardiography (EECG), and Thallium-201 dipyridamole scintigraphy. Correlation between aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and CAC score was also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  CAC score was assessed with conventional computed tomography in 40 patients. Thirty patients completed EECG and 25; those with a positive CAC score and/or a positive EECG performed Thallium dipyridamole scintigraphy. Carotid-femoral PWV was assessed in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no association among CAC score and EECG or Thallium dipyridamole scintigraphy. In contrast, CAC score was correlated with aortic PWV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The previous results question the role of CAC score in the detection of CAD in asymptomatic HD patients. The correlation between CAC score and aortic PWV raises the possibility that CAC score represents more an indicator of coronary artery medial wall calcification than a marker of CAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, 2nd IKA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. spatsalas@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patsalas
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eleftheriadis
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spaia
authors.forename: Hariklia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Theodoroglou
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Panou
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liakopoulos
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antoniadi
authors.forename: Ploumis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Passadakis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vayonas
authors.forename: Efthimios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kanakis
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vargemezis
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011866:Radioisotope Renography / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes