Cardiovascular events are still the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with ESRD including hemodialysis patients . Although the conventional risk factors of CVD are relatively recognized in general population, an inverse epidemiologic relationship has been reported for many CV risk factors in CKD patients, including hypertension, BMI and lipid profile .Therefore, a comprehensive investigation is necessary to be able to do effective risk management strategies in this population and some surrogate markers are required to be determined for illustrating the net effect of the risk factors.

While several mechanisms have been attributed to hypertension in hemodialysis (HD) patients, the exact pathogenesis, impact, monitoring and control of hypertension in HD patients are still challenging subjects in clinical nephrology. Both low and high BP associate with higher mortality in HD. But a reliable marker for defining an optimal BP in HD is still an important question.

It seems that arterial stiffness play an axial role in the cardiovascular and renal adverse outcomes in CKD and HD, as it is in several other populations , Arterial stiffness has been demonstrated as an independent predictor of mortality in hemodialysis patients . However, hemodialysis patients experience a fluctuating hemodynamic state and there are several limitations for consecutive measurement of arterial stiffness indices such as pulse wave velocity (PWV). Furthermore, the expensive measurement devices and expert operators might not be available in every dialysis center.

From 60 patients who were on a HD program in a HD center in a referral hospital, fifty one individuals were included into the study. Patients on maintenance hemodialysis, for at least 12 hours per weeks were included into the study. But, patients with symptomatic CVD, AV fistula on both arms, acute deteriorating states and any recent major trauma or patients who refused measurements were excluded. No change in their current medication was administered. All patients were on maintenance HD for at least 12 months and were assumed as good volume controlled. Dialysis protocol with a mean sp KT/V = 1.4/ session, using Bicarbonate dialysate, dialysate flow rate = 500cc /min was applied by Fresenius B 4008machine. BP was measured using a validated automated device (Omron-HBP1300). Pulse wave analysis was performed using the SphygmoCor (Sydney, Atcor Medical®,2005) to assess Augmentation Index (AIx) as a surrogate for arterial stiffness, as well as several hemodynamic measures at the recruitment and repeated in alive individuals after 5 years of follow-up. Similarly Echocardiography was employed at the beginnings and repeated at the end of the study by EKO 7 Cardiovascular Ultrasound System (Samsung Medison©). A single observerwas responsible for each series of measurements, double checked.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients on maintenance hemodialysis for at least 12 hours per weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with symptomatic CVD
• Recent major trauma
• Patients who refused measurements

Patients on maintenance hemodialysis, for at least 12 hours per weeks were included into the study. But, patients with symptomatic CVD, AV fistula on both arms, acute deteriorating states and any recent major trauma or patients who refused measurements were excluded. No change in their current medication was administered. All patients were on maintenance HD for at least 12 months and were assumed as good volume controlled.