Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound
10:08

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound

Published on: December 2, 2014

Do higher dialysate calcium concentrations increase vascular stiffness in haemodialysis patients as measured by

Evangelia Charitaki1, Andrew Davenport

  • 1UCL Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free hospital, University College London Medical School, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK. andrewdavenport@nhs.net.

BMC Nephrology
|September 10, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Arterial stiffness, measured by pulse wave velocity, increased in hemodialysis patients over six months. This vascular stiffening occurred even with the lowest dialysate calcium levels, suggesting other factors are involved.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Hemodialysis patients exhibit high rates of hypertension and cardiovascular events.
  • Elevated dialysate calcium may acutely and chronically increase arterial stiffness.
  • The relationship between dialysate calcium concentration and arterial stiffness changes in hemodialysis requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate changes in arterial stiffness among hemodialysis patients.
  • To determine if a threshold effect of dialysate calcium concentration influences arterial stiffness.

Main Methods:

  • Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured in 289 hemodialysis patients over six months.
  • Patients were dialyzed with varying dialysate calcium concentrations (1.0, 1.25, 1.35, and ≥1.5 mmol/l).

Main Results:

  • Mean PWV increased significantly over the six-month study period (9.66 ± 2.0 to 10.13 ± 2.16 m/s).
  • No significant changes were observed in aortic augmentation index or central aortic pressure.
  • PWV increased in groups using 1.0 mmol/l and 1.35 mmol/l dialysate calcium concentrations.

Conclusions:

  • Vascular stiffening, indicated by increased PWV, is a progressive issue in hemodialysis patients.
  • The increase in PWV at lower dialysate calcium concentrations suggests factors beyond simple calcium balance influence vascular stiffening.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease08:50

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Published on: June 16, 2014

Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy10:35

Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: October 19, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications01:24

Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications

DialyzersA hemodialysis (HD) dialyzer is a plastic cartridge containing thousands of parallel hollow fibers, which serve as semipermeable membranes. These fibers are typically made from cellulose-based or other synthetic materials. During HD, blood is pumped into the top of the cartridge and distributed among these fibers. Simultaneously, dialysis fluid, known as dialysate, is introduced into the bottom of the cartridge, bathing the outside of the fibers. Across the semipermeable membrane,...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers01:18

Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium ions are essential to contract smooth muscle cells in blood vessels. They enter these cells through voltage-dependent calcium channels, specifically L-type calcium channels in the cell membrane. These L-type calcium channels are integral to the excitation-contraction coupling process in smooth muscle. When a stimulus is received by smooth muscle cells, their membrane depolarizes. This alteration in membrane potential instigates the opening of L-type calcium channels. As a result,...
Hemodialysis I: Introduction01:25

Hemodialysis I: Introduction

Hemodialysis (HD) is a medical treatment that artificially removes waste products, excess fluids, and toxins from the blood when the kidneys are no longer able to perform these functions effectively. In this process, blood is filtered through a semipermeable membrane, allowing for the selective removal of waste while preserving necessary components like blood cells and proteins. Hemodialysis is typically performed in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or severe kidney...
Hemodialysis III: Nursing Management01:25

Hemodialysis III: Nursing Management

The nursing management of a patient undergoing hemodialysis includes several critical steps, starting with a thorough assessment before the procedure.Before the Hemodialysis ProcedureFirst, record the patient's vital signs—blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature—to establish a baseline. This baseline is essential for detecting conditions such as hypotension that could impact the patient's response to dialysis. Document the patient's pre-dialysis weight, as this measurement...
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators01:23

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Vasodilators, primarily affecting the smooth muscles within arterial and venous walls, are commonly used for hypertension treatment. Medications such as minoxidil and hydralazine primarily target arteries and arterioles, while sodium nitroprusside acts on arterioles and venules. Minoxidil, functioning as a prodrug, is metabolized by hepatic sulfotransferase into its active form, minoxidil sulfate, after oral administration. This metabolite binds to the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) component of...