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Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
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Simple evaluation of aortic arch calcification by chest radiography in hemodialysis patients

Tetsuya Ogawa1, Hideki Ishida, Nami Matsuda

  • 1Department of Medicine, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. togawa@kc.twmu.ac.jp

Hemodialysis International. International Symposium on Home Hemodialysis
|June 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A simple chest X-ray score for aortic arch calcification (AoAC) is a reliable, noninvasive method to assess vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients. This in-office technique correlates well with CT scans, aiding treatment decisions.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Radiology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

  • Vascular calcification is a significant predictor of poor outcomes in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD).
  • Computed tomography (CT) is a standard method for quantifying aortic arch calcification volume (AoACV), but it is resource-intensive.
  • Simple, noninvasive in-office techniques are needed for assessing vascular calcification in HD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare a simple, noninvasive semiquantitative technique for aortic arch calcification scoring (AoACS) with multidetector CT-based AoACV measurement.
  • To evaluate the utility of AoACS as an in-office imaging tool for HD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Sixty-three maintenance HD patients were enrolled.
  • Aortic arch calcification was semiquantitatively assessed using an AoAC score (AoACS) on plain chest radiography.
  • AoACV was measured using multidetector CT.

Main Results:

  • The mean AoACV was 6.6% (range 0%–36.5%).
  • AoACS demonstrated a high correlation with AoACV (r=0.635, P<0.001).
  • Age and pulse pressure were identified as significant independent determinants of AoACS.

Conclusions:

  • A simple AoACS measurement on plain chest radiography is a reliable and noninvasive method for assessing aortic arch calcification in HD patients.
  • This in-office technique may be valuable for guiding therapeutic strategies in this population.

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