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Effects of AST-120 on left ventricular mass in predialysis patients
Kentaro Nakai1, Hideki Fujii, Keiji Kono
1Division of Nephrology and Kidney Center, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
Insights
AST-120 may prevent cardiac abnormalities in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients by reducing uremic toxins. This study found fewer patients on AST-120 developed left ventricular concentric change, a key cardiac issue in CKD.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.
- Uremic toxins are implicated in the progression of CVD in CKD.
- AST-120 is investigated for its potential to absorb uremic toxins and attenuate CVD progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between AST-120 use and cardiac abnormalities in predialysis CKD patients.
- To investigate the effect of AST-120 on left ventricular (LV) concentric change.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 107 predialysis CKD patients.
- Patients divided into AST-120 (n=43) and control (n=64) groups based on administration duration (>6 months).
- Echocardiography and laboratory tests were performed to assess cardiac abnormalities and clinical characteristics.
Main Results:
- Significantly fewer patients in the AST-120 group exhibited left ventricular (LV) concentric change compared to the control group.
- Multivariable analysis identified AST-120 administration, gender, and pulse pressure as significant correlates of LV concentric change.
Conclusions:
- AST-120 administration is associated with a reduced incidence of LV concentric change in predialysis CKD patients.
- Findings suggest AST-120 may prevent the development of LV concentric change in this patient population.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. One of the proposed mechanisms assumes that accumulated uremic toxins play an important role in the progression of CVD in CKD. Recently, it has been reported that AST-120 may attenuate progression of CVD through absorption of uremic toxins. In this study, we examined the association between the use of AST-120 and cardiac abnormalities in CKD patients.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study of predialysis CKD patients hospitalized in our institution between April 2008 and October 2009. We divided 107 patients into two groups based on whether AST-120 had been administered for more than 6 months (AST-120 group: n = 43) or not (control group: n = 64). Echocardiography and laboratory tests were performed for all patients; we examined the relationship between clinical characteristics and cardiac abnormalities.
Results:
The number of patients with left ventricular (LV) concentric change was significantly smaller in the AST-120 group than in the control group. In multivariable analysis, the administration of AST-120, gender, and pulse pressure were significantly correlated with LV concentric change.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that AST-120 prevents the development of LV concentric change in predialysis CKD patients.
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