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Cardiovascular accidents related to atherosclerosis are the leading cause of death among hemodialysis patients, which makes continuous monitoring of their cardiovascular status crucial. Recently, a handy device for monitoring the augmentation index (AIx) in the radial artery was introduced in Japan, enabling the use of the AIx in addition to pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the management of hemodialysis patients. In this study the AIx, PWV, abdominal aortic calcification index (ACI), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were serially assessed in 108 hemodialysis patients. The radial AIx was monitored using a newly introduced tonometer (HEM-9010AI), and the interrelationships among the measured parameters and their contributions to the risk of cardiovascular accidents were evaluated. The radial AIx was significantly higher in hemodialysis patients than in healthy subjects (N = 50) and was well correlated with risk markers such as LVMI (r = 0.30, P = 0.019) and ACI (r = 0.38, P < 0.001), but not with PWV. Multiregression analysis showed that radial AIx was also significantly associated with LVMI, ACI and blood pressure; PWV was associated with other parameters such as age, blood pressure, and ACI. The AIx and ACI were both significantly increased in patients with cardiovascular complications. Although PWV was strongly increased in the hemodialysis patients, it failed to discriminate between these subgroups of high-risk patients. The radial AIx is closely associated with aortic calcification, cardiac hypertrophy, and a history of cardiovascular accidents in hemodialysis patients, and could be a useful marker for management of these patients.

Leukocytapheresis (LCAP) is a therapeutic strategy for extra corporeal immunomodulation that has been used to treat several immunological disorders, including ulcerative colitis (UC), with encouraging results, inducing remission in steroid-resistant patients. However, we have experienced some complications during or after LCAP therapy. Common adverse effects include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and hypotension. One of the reasons for these adverse effects might be the use of nafamostat mesilate (NM) as an anticoagulant. In the present study, 75 patients with UC were divided into two groups, an NM group and a dalteparin sodium (DS) group. The clinical efficacy of these treatments, improvement after treatment, changes in leukocyte differential count, and adverse effects after LCAP therapy were then compared. The clinical efficacy, improvement after treatment, and changes in leukocyte classification were not significantly different between the two groups, while some adverse effects were observed in the NM group but not in the DS group. In conclusion, LCAP therapy is a useful therapy for patients with moderate to severe UC who fail to respond to glucocorticoid therapy, however, a safe anticoagulant should be used to avoid its related adverse effects.