The value of computed tomography-derived coronary artery calcification score in coronary artery disease detection in asymptomatic hemodialysis patients.
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.
Patsalas
Stavros
S
Department of Nephrology, 2nd IKA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. spatsalas@hotmail.com
Eleftheriadis
Theodoros
T
Spaia
Sofia
S
Theodoroglou
Hariklia
H
Panou
Eleni
E
Liakopoulos
Vassilis
V
Antoniadi
Georgia
G
Passadakis
Ploumis
P
Vayonas
Georgios
G
Kanakis
Efthimios
E
Vargemezis
Vassilis
V
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
D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes