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Introduction: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) and arterial stiffness (AS) have each been linked with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. However, there is no data in the literature up-to-date on AS in adult patients with NS. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential associations between AS, volume and nutritional status in patients with NS in comparison to a healthy control group., Methods: 34 adult patients with newly diagnosed but untreated NS and 34 healthy controls were studied. AS was assessed by carotid-femoral PWV (cf-PWV) and body composition, nutritional status by multifrequency bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA)., Results: Mean age was 44.6 ± 18.7 years (18 - 72). Mean cf-PWV was 8.3 ± 2.5 m/s in patients with NS and 6.7 ± 1.1 m/s in controls (p = 0.002) . In univariate analysis, cf-PWV and positively correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure, body mass index, body fat ratio, waisthip ratio, creatinine, uric acid and negatively with creatinine clearance. In linear regression analysis, only age and MAP predicted arterial stiffness. Total body fluid, extracellular water (ECW), ECW/Height, ECW/body surface area and third space volumes were higher in patients with NS., Conclusion: Patients with NS have increased AS and are more hypervolemic compared to the healthy subjects.

Objective: In this study, we compared the changes in arterial stiffness in chronic hemodialysis patients treated with 8-h vs. 4-h thrice weekly in-center hemodialysis., Methods: Sixty prevalent chronic hemodialysis patients assigned to 8-h nocturnal in-center thrice weekly HD (NHD) and 60 control cases assigned to 4-h thrice weekly conventional HD (CHD) were followed for one year. Radial-carotid pulse wave velocity, augmentation index and echocardiography were performed at baseline and 12th month., Results: Mean age of the patients was 49±11 years, 30.8% were female, 27.5% had diabetes mellitus and mean dialysis vintage was 57±47 months. Baseline demographical, clinical and laboratory parameters were similar between groups. During a mean follow-up of 15.0±0.1 months, blood pressure remained similar in both groups while the number of mean daily anti-hypertensive substances decreased in the NHD group. In the NHD group, time-averaged serum phosphorus and calcium-phosphorus product were lower than the CHD group. Pulse wave velocity and augmentation index decreased in the NHD group (from 11.02±2.51 m/s to 9.61±2.39 m/s and from 28.8±10.3% to 26.2±12.1%; p=0.008 and p=0.04, respectively). While augmentation index increased in the CHD group (28.0±9.4 to 31.0±10.7%, p=0.02), pulse wave velocity did not change. Subendocardial viability ratio and ejection duration improved in the NHD group (from 135±28 to 143±25%, p=0.01 and from 294±34 ms to 281±34 ms, p=0.003, respectively), accompanied by regression of left ventricular mass index. In multiple stepwise linear regression analyses, NHD was associated with improvements in augmentation index, ejection duration and subendocardial viability ratio., Conclusions: These data indicate that arterial stiffness is ameliorated by implementation of longer hemodialysis sessions., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Arterial stiffness is a risk marker for cardiovascular events. In this study we aimed to compare the effect on calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) and mammalian Target of Rapamycine inhibitors (mTORi) on arterial stiffness in renal transplant patients., Patients and Methods: 81 renal transplant patients under CNI-based or mTORi-based protocol for at least 6 months were included in the study. Arterial stiffness was measured by using the SphygmoCor device (AtCor Medical, Sydney, Australia). Vitamin K-dependent, calcification inhibitor matrix Gla protein (MGP) concentrations were quantified by ELISA methods (Biomedica, Vienna, Austria)., Results: 34 patients were on mTORi-based and 47 on CNI-based immunosuppression. Mean age was 37.9 ± 10.8 (18 - 71) years and 45% were female. Age, gender, graft functions and follow-up period of the groups were similar. Augmentation index was 15.2 ± 12.6% in CNI and 18.8 ± 14.0% in mTORi groups (p > 0.05). There was no difference regarding carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity between groups. Arterial stiffness was positively correlated with age, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and proteinuria. MGP levels were higher in the mTORi group but were not predictors for carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity., Conclusion: Rather than specific immunosuppressive drug effects, conventional risk factors, blood pressure and proteinuria are the most important predictors for arterial stiffness in renal transplant patients.