Vascular calcification in dialysis patients.
The risk factors for vascular calcification (VC) in dialysis patients include duration of dialysis, diabetes mellitus, aging, hyperphosphatemia, hyperparathyroidism, and calcium or vitamin D supplementation. This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for VC in our dialysis population.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-nine chronic dialysis patients underwent plain x-rays of the hands for VC. Patients were grouped as either positive (PVC) or negative (NVC) for VC. Age, gender, duration of dialysis, presence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), oral calcium, and 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 supplement, serum levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), calcium phosphorus product (CaxP), alkaline phosphates (ALP) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
Thirty-four patients (26.35%) showed VC. There were no differences between PVC and NVC patients for duration of dialysis (38.4 +/- 27.7 for PVC and 34.6 +/- 31.2 months for NVC, P = .80), levels of serum Ca (P = .26), P (P = .19), CaxP (P = .33), ALP (P = .89), or iPTH (P = .24). Similarly, oral calcium and 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 intake were not different between the two groups (P = .971 and P = .3710 respectively). Compared to NVC patients, PVC patients were older (56.3 +/- 10.4 versus 47.5 +/- 16.1 years, P = .008) and had a greater incidence of NIDDM (17/34 PVC and diabetic versus 20/95 NVC, P = .001). In conclusion, for patients with a medium length of dialysis, the duration of dialysis as well as the doses of calcium salts and of 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 were not significantly associated with vascular calcifications, but it was not possible to exclude a role for these and other factors in patients with longer dialysis.
Al Humoud
H
H
Mubarek Al Kaeber Hospital, Hawally, Kuwait.
Al-Hilali
N
N
Ahmad
A A M H
AA
Ninan
V T
VT
Nampoory
M R N
MR
Rizk
A M
AM
Ali
J H
JH
Johny
K V
KV
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000628:therapy; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*
D010710:Phosphates; D010758:Phosphorus; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium