Carotid Intima-media Thickness as Cardiovascular Mortality Predictor in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Carotid Intima-media Thickness and Coronary Flow Reserve as Cardiovascular Event and Mortality Predictors in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: Results of Seven-year Follow-up From a Single Center

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the main cause of death in patients on dialysis. The aim of this study is the long-term prognostic values of carotid intima-media thickness and coronary flow reserve in cardiovascular mortality of peritoneal dialysis patients.

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is a precursor and cause of cardiovascular diseases. Defining of endothelial thickness and coronary microvascular function could be useful for detecting ED. Endothelial dysfunction could be assessed by coronary flow reserve (CFR), carotid intima media thickness (IMT). Repeating measurement of IMT and CFR could be predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Peritoneal dialysis patients whose followed up at least six months from October 1994 to October 2011 (for study group)
• Kidney transplant recipients whose followed up at least six months from October 1994 to October 2011 (for control group)

Exclusion Criteria:

• diabetes mellitus
• valvular heart disease,
• any prior coronary intervention and congestive heart failure
• Patients whose left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) could not be visualized adequately by Doppler echocardiography were also excluded.