title: The natural history of coronary calcification progression in a cohort of nocturnal haemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with a markedly increased cardiac calcification burden, as reflected by computed tomography scans of the heart. Nocturnal haemodialysis (NHD) is a novel form of renal replacement therapy which has multiple physiologic effects that may affect vascular calcification, including improvements in phosphate and uraemia control. The objective of the present study is the determination of the natural history of coronary calcification progression in patients converted to NHD, and the examination of the relationships between calcification risk factors and calcification progression in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight ESRD patients were converted to NHD, and included in our observational cohort study. Coronary artery calcification scores (CACS) were documented at baseline and post-conversion (mean interscan duration 16+/-1 months). Other variables of interest included age, dialysis vintage, Framingham risk profile, phosphate binder and vitamin D usage, and plasma levels of calcium, phosphate and parathyroid hormone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our cohort was stratified according to baseline calcification burden (minimal calcification: CACS < or = 10 vs significant calcification: CACS > 10). Twenty-four patients had baseline CACS < or = 10. These patients demonstrated no change in coronary calcification after 1 year of NHD (from 0.7+/-0.5 to 6+/-3, P = 0.1). Fourteen patients had higher initial CACS at baseline (1874+/-696), and demonstrated a non-significant 9% increase over 1 year to 2038+/-740 (P = 0.1). Plasma phosphate and calcium x phosphate product were significantly reduced, as were calcium-based phosphate binder and antihypertensive usage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study is the first to document CACS progression in a cohort of NHD patients. Further analysis of the effect of NHD on the physiology of cardiovascular calcification is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Toronto General Hospital-University Health Network, University of Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 2C4.
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pierratos
authors.forename: Robert M A
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed