Atherosclerotic changes in the carotid and femoral arteries in asymptomatic hemodialysis and predialysis patients

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to evaluate the early atherosclerotic changes of large arteries in hemodialysis. Intima-media thickness [IMT] and atherosclerotic plaques of the carotid and femoral arteries were examined in three groups [30 hemodialysis patients, 30 predialysis patients and 20 healthy control subjects matched for age and sex] by high resolution B-mode ultrasound. The results have shown that IMT values of the carotid and femoral arteries in the hemodialysis patients were significantly higher than in the predialysis patients and were significantly higher in both patients groups than in healthy control subjects. Atherosclerotic plaques were found in the majority of hemodialysis patients [60%], 40% in predialysis patients vs. 13.3% in healthy controls. The present study has shown that the IMT of the carotid and femoral arteries is significantly increased in asymptomatic hemodialysis as well as in predialysis patients. Atherosclerotic and arteriosclerotic vessel wall changes are present in most chronic uremic patients before or after hemodialysis