title: Simple evaluation of aortic arch calcification by chest radiography in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: Vascular calcification is associated with a poor prognosis in dialysis patients. It can be assessed with computed tomography but simple inoffice techniques may provide useful information. We compared the results obtained with a simple noninvasive technique with those obtained using multidetector computed tomography for aortic arch calcification volume (AoACV) in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. The enrolled study subjects were 63 (32 men and 31 women) maintenance HD patients. Calcification of the aortic arch was semiquantitatively estimated with a AoAC score (AoACS) on plain chest radiology. The AoACV was increased, with a mean value of 6.6 ranging from 0% to 36.5%. The coefficient of intraobserver variation was less than 2.5%. Aortic arch calcification score was highly correlated with AoACV (r=0.635, P<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed age (F value=12.62, P<0.001) and pulse pressure (F value=4.54, P=0.037) to be significant independent determinants of AoACS. In conclusion, a simple measurement of AoACS may be useful for inoffice imaging to choose a therapeutic regimen in HD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. togawa@kc.twmu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Nami
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Ayuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujiu
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Kosaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nitta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods