Examination of the carotid artery flow-velocity waveform velocity in hemodialysis patients

Arteriosclerotic disease is a common complication in hemodialysis patients. We searched for a useful predictive factor for the presence of cerebro- and cardiovascular disorder （ CCVD ） based on hemodialysis patientsʼ carotid artery flow-velocity waveforms. In 87 hemodialysis patients, the peak systolic velocity （ PSV ) , end diastolic velocity （ EDV ) , pulsatility index （ PI ） and end diastolic velocity ratio （ ED ratio ） were analyzed by carotid ultrasound examination. We examined the relationship between these flow-velocity waveforms and the maximum calcification index （ ACI . There were significant negative correlations between the EDV and max-IMT, CAVI and ACI. The EDV and ED ratio of the CCVD （ ＋ ） group were significantly higher than those of the CCVD （ − ） group. We then divided all subjects into two groups according to the mean value of EDV （ 11 cm ／ sec . The incidence of CCVD in the lower-EDV group （ ＜11 cm ／ sec ） was significantly higher than that in the higher-EDV group （ B 11 cm ／ sec . These findings suggest that the EDV and ED ratio are useful markers, as well as predictors of occlusive disease in hemodialysis patients. They further suggest that a low level of EDV is related to the incidence of CCVD in hemodialysis patients.