title: The link between bone disease and cardiovascular complications in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The burden on the cardiovascular system is the main cause of mortality in chronic renal patients, and bone disease, which also may cause disability, is one of the most important complications in those patients. The aim of this study was to determine the link between cardiovascular and bone disease, which frequently occur together.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this matched case-control study, 70 subjects were subjected for full laboratory assessment as well as estimation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) level, vitamin D level, complete echocardiography, and dual energy absorptiometry. Of the 70 patients, 50 were on regular hemodialysis, and there were 20 normal controls matched with the patients with respect to age and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant decrease in the mean value of serum vitamin D in the hemodialysis patients, i.e., their mean value was 20.47 ± 9.60 whereas the controls had a mean value of 37.15 ± 7.67. Thus, there was a highly-significant, negative correlation between vitamin D and left ventricular mass (LVM) in the patients. We found that there was a highly-significant increase in the mean PTH levels of the patients (820.22 ± 393.51), whereas it was 57.60 ± 13.72 for the controls. The statistical significance was less than 0.001, a highly-significant increase in the mean of the T score levels in the patients (-2.15 ± 2.56), whereas it was -0.47 ± 0.71 for the controls with a statistical significance of less than 0.001. There also was a highly-significant correlation between the T score and LVM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant correlation was found between bone disease and the occurrence of a left ventricular mass. We recommend early strict correction of the serum levels of vitamin D, PTH, calcium, and phosphorus.
authors: Department of Nephrology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Noha
authors: N
authors: Elsheikh
authors: Department of Nephrology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Nevine
authors: N
authors: Sherif
authors: Department of Nephrology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Sameh Abou
authors: SA
authors: Zeid
authors: Department of Intensive Care Unit, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Mervat
authors: M
authors: Eldamarawy
authors: Department of Intensive Care Unit, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Ali
authors: Department of Intensive Care Unit, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Amal Ismail
authors: AI
authors: Sabry
keywords: cardiovascular complication; echocardiography; hemodialysis