title: Association between AST-120 and abdominal aortic calcification in predialysis patients with chronic kidney disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular calcification is associated with mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease. AST-120, which adsorbs uremic toxins, is reported to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and death in chronic kidney disease patients. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between abdominal aortic calcification and the use of AST-120 in predialysis chronic kidney disease patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was conducted including 199 predialysis chronic kidney disease patients (stages 4 and 5) who underwent abdominal plain computed tomography in our institution between 2005 and 2010. Abdominal aortic calcification was assessed by aortic calcification index (ACI). Patients were divided into two groups based on whether or not AST-120 was administered for at least six months, and ACI was compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The aortic calcification index was significantly lower in patients taking AST-120 [12.2 (2.5-30.3) vs. 25.7 (13.4-45.3) %, P < 0.001]. According to multivariate linear regression analysis, the use of AST-120 was independently and significantly correlated with ACI after adjusting for confounding factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of AST-120 was independently associated with less aortic calcification in predialysis chronic kidney disease patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Kidney Center, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002244:Carbon / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007200:Indican / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; D002244:Carbon; C040896:AST 120; D007200:Indican