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Coronary-artery calcification in young adults with end-stage renal disease who are undergoing dialysis

W G Goodman1, J Goldin, B D Kuizon

  • 1Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. wgoodman@ucla.edu

The New England Journal of Medicine
|May 18, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Coronary-artery calcification is common in young adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing dialysis. This calcification is progressive, increasing over time in ESRD patients.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is prevalent in older adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis.
  • Limited data exists on CVD prevalence and extent in pediatric and young adult ESRD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and extent of coronary-artery calcification in young patients with ESRD undergoing dialysis.
  • To correlate calcification findings with patient clinical characteristics and biochemical markers.

Main Methods:

  • Electron-beam computed tomography (CT) was used to screen for coronary-artery calcification.
  • 39 young ESRD patients (age 7-30) and 60 healthy controls (age 20-30) were included.
  • Calcification extent was determined, and results were correlated with clinical and biochemical data.

Main Results:

  • No coronary-artery calcification was found in patients younger than 20.
  • Calcification was present in 14/16 patients aged 20-30, compared to 3/60 controls.
  • Patients with calcification were older, had longer dialysis duration, and higher serum phosphorus and calcium-x-phosphorus product.

Conclusions:

  • Coronary-artery calcification is common in young adults with ESRD on dialysis.
  • The calcification observed in these patients is progressive over time.
  • Early detection and management strategies for CVD in young ESRD patients are warranted.
Abstract

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