Circulating microvesicles across a population with various degree of cardiovascular burden are associated with systolic blood pressure

Circulating microvesicles (MVs) have been studied in heterogeneous, divergent, and rather small patient populations with cardiovascular risk . Therefore, we measured endothelial (EMVs), platelet (PMVs) and erythrocyte (RMVs) MVs in patients with divergent cardiovascular risk. We then compared them to coronary artery disease (CAD) and healthy subjects and identified independent MVs' predictors. We enrolled consecutive patients from our Cardiology, Hypertension, Diabetic, Rheumatic, and Nephrology Outpatient Units with MVs measurements. Central blood pressure (BP) was measured by either applanation tonometry or Mobil-O-graph device, while MVs by a standardized flow cytometry protocol. We studied 369 participants with increased cardiovascular risk: 63 with high cardiovascular risk (47 diabetes mellitus type II/DM and 16 end-stage renal disease/ESRD), 92 with chronic inflammatory disorders and 73 with untreated essential hypertension/UEH. We further included 53 subjects with CAD and 87 otherwise healthy individuals. All MVs were lower in patients with increased cardiovascular risk compared to CAD, showing predictive value with high sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, PMVs and EMVs were increased in patients with cardiovascular risk compared to healthy individuals. DM and ESRD patients had increased EMVs versus UEH and chronic inflammatory disorders. In the whole study population, RMVs were associated only with history of essential hypertension. In multivariate analysis, systolic BP predicted PMVs. Aage, systolic BP, and DM predicted EMVs. In a large population of patients with divergent cardiovascular risk, MVs are independently associated with systolic blood pressure.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors and the risk of major arrhythmias: a meta-analysis of the cardiovascular and renal outcome trials

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is closely associated with cardiovascular disease and evidence already exists on its arrhythmogenic action. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a unique class of oral antidiabetic medications which recently attracted attention for reducing the total risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in a series of recent, large placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Dapagliflozin and empagliflozin additionally seem to improve survival and outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), irrespective of the presence of diabetes mellitus. Whether antidiabetic treatment with sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors could reduce the arrhythmic burden in diabetic patients still is to be clarified.

Purpose

The purpose of the present meta-analysis was to report the impact of SGLT2i on the risk for several types of cardiac arrhythmias, pooling data from all relevant cardiovascular and renal outcome, placebo-controlled, RCTs, comparing SGLT2i to placebo.

Methods

We searched PubMed for all available cardiovascular and renal outcome RCTs utilizing SGLT2i, along with grey literature sources. We sought to determine the risk of the following arrhythmias/cardiac disorders with the use of SGLT2i versus placebo: atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular extrasystoles, sinus bradycardia, sinus node dysfunction, second degree atrioventricular block, complete atrioventricular block.

Results

We extracted relevant data from 8 trials (5 dedicated cardiovascular outcome trials, 2 dedicated renal outcome trials, 1 trial enrolling patients with HFrEF), pooling data in a total of 55,966 patients. SGLT-2i treatment compared to placebo produced a significant reduction in the risk of atrial fibrillation equal to 21% (RR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.67–0.93, I2=0%) (Figure 1). A non-significant reduction in the risk of atrial flutter equal to 9% (RR=0.91, 95% CI: 0.64–1.29, I2=0%) was also observed with SGLT2i (Figure 2). No significant effect on the rest major arrhythmias was observed.

Conclusions

Antidiabetic therapy with SGLT2i seems to hold a significant impact on antiarrhythmic burden in type 2 diabetes mellitus, reducing the risk of atrial fibrillation development.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1Figure 2

P1294AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE PROFILE IN PERITONEAL DIALYSIS COMPARED TO HEMODIALYSIS AND CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS

Background and Aims

Hypertension is highly prevalent in dialysis patients and is often poorly controlled. Data on the ambulatory blood pressure (BP) profile of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) are scarce. The aim of this study is to compare the ambulatory BP profile of PD patients with that of hemodialysis (HD) and to pre-dialysis CKD patients.

Method

38 patients undergoing PD were matched in a 1:2 ratio for age, gender and dialysis vintage with 76 HD patients and in a 1:1 ratio for age and gender with 38 CKD stages 2-4 patients. Patients under PD and HD underwent 48-hour and CKD patients 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring. BP levels were compared for the 48hour, 1st and 2nd 24hour, daytime and nighttime periods. Two-way mixed ANOVA analysis for repeated measurements was used to evaluate the effect of dialysis modality and time on ambulatory BP in PD and HD.

Results

During all periods studied, SBP and DBP were numerically higher but not statistically different in PD than in HD patients. SBP was significantly higher in PD or HD compared with predialysis CKD (PD:138.38±20.97; HD:133.75±15.5; CKD:125.52±13.4 mmHg, p=0.003; PD vs CKD: p=0.003; HD vs CKD: p=0.041 accordingly); significant differences were also evident during the daytime and nighttime periods. DBP displayed a similar trend in the total period studied (PD:82.34±15.22; HD:80.47±11.13; CKD:76.81±7.82 mmHg, p=0.108), but the difference significant only during the second nighttime period. Repeated-measurements analysis showed no effect of dialysis modality and no interaction between modality and time on ambulatory BP during all periods studied.

Conclusion

Average BP levels are similar between PD and HD patients, but higher for both groups compared to CKD counterparts. The dialysis modality had no significant effect on ambulatory BP profile.

P1252ASSOCIATIONS OF SERUM SCLEROSTIN AND DKK-1 PROTEIN WITH FUTURE CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS AND MORTALITY IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS; A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Background and Aims

Sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) protein are inhibitors of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin bone pathway. Sclerostin but not Dkk-1 is associated with increased arterial stiffness. This study examined the prognostic significance of serum sclerostin and Dickkopf-related protein-1 (Dkk-1) levels for cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Method

Serum sclerostin and Dkk-1 levels were measured with ELISA in 80 hemodialysis patients that were followed-up for a median of 45 months. Several factors that could interfere in the association of sclerostin and Dkk-1 with outcomes (including carotid-femoral pulse-wave-velocity (PWV), parathyroid hormone, calcium-phospate product and others) were assessed at baseline The primary end-point was a combination of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, coronary revascularization, hospitalization for decompensated heart failure and new-onset atrial fibrillation. Secondary end-points included cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.

Results

Cumulative freedom from the primary endpoint was significantly lower for higher tertiles of sclerostin (77.8%, 69.2%, and 40.7% for tertiles 1 to 3 respectively; log-rank-p=0.004). The corresponding risk for the primary outcome was gradually increasing for higher tertiles of sclerostin (Tertile 3: HR: 3.847, 95%CI: 1.502-9.851). No significant association was evident between sclerostin and all-cause mortality, whereas higher sclerostin levels presented a trend towards higher risk for cardiovascular mortality. Dkk-1 levels exhibited no association with the risk of the primary or the secondary endpoints. In stepwise Cox regression modeled analysis, sclerostin levels were associated with the primary outcome, independently of PTH, calcium-phosphate product, serum albumin, CRP and PWV levels (HR: 2.921, 95%CI: 1.401–6.090; p=0.004).

Conclusion

High serum sclerostin levels are associated with lower cumulative freedom and higher risk for a composite cardiovascular endpoint but not for all-cause mortality. Dkk-1 protein exhibited no association with the future risk of cardiovascular events.

P1012NAIL CAPILLARY DENSITY DURING POSTOCCLUSIVE REACTIVE HYPEREMIA AND VENOUS CONGESTION IS MORE IMPAIRED IN DIABETIC COMPARED TO NON-DIABETIC CKD PATIENTS

Background and Aims

Αlterations in endothelial function and capillary circulation have been associated with increased cardiovascular events and overall mortality. Both diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been associated with microcirculatory damage. Nailfold video-capillaroscory can provide a thorough assessment of capillary density and microcirculation changes. This is the first study examining in comparison microcirculatory function parameters in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with CKD.

Method

We included 48 diabetic and 48 non-diabetic adult patients (>18 years) with CKD (eGFR: <90 and ≥15mL/min/1.73m2), matched in a 1:1 ratio for age, sex and eGFR within each CKD stage (2, 3a, 3b and 4). All participants underwent nailfold video-capillaroscopy, during which capillary density was measured at normal conditions (baseline), after a 4-minute arterial occlusion (postocclusive reactive hyperemia) and at the end of a 2-minute venous occlusion (congestion phase).

Results

Baseline demographic, anthropometric and laboratory characteristics were similar between patients with and without diabetes in total and in CKD stages. Overall, no significant differences at baseline capillary density were observed between groups; however diabetic patients presented significantly lower capillary density during reactive hyperemia (36.3±3.8 vs 38.3±4.3 capillaries/mm2, p=0.022) and at venous congestion (37.8±4.0 vs 39.8±4.2 capillaries/mm2, p=0.015). When stratified according to CKD stages, the between-group differences in parameters of interest were not significant in stages 2, 3a and 4. In stage 3b, capillary density was significantly lower in diabetic compared to non-diabetic subjects at baseline (31.1±2.8 vs 33.4±3.4 capillaries/mm2, p=0.044), during postocclusive hyperemia (36.8±2.7 vs 40.0±4.3 capillaries/mm2, p=0.037) and venous congestion (38.3±2.8 vs 41.5±3.5 capillaries/mm2, p=0.022).

Conclusion

Capillary density during postocclusive reactive hyperemia and after venous congestion is lower in diabetic compared to non-diabetic CKD patients, a finding indicative that diabetes is an additional factor contributing to microcirculatory functional impairment in CKD. These differences are more prominent in CKD stage 3b, and less prominent in earlier and later stages.

P1270INCREASED SCLEROSTIN, BUT NOT DKK-1 PROTEIN, IS ASSOCIATED WITH ELEVATED PULSE WAVE VELOCITY IN HEMODIALYSIS SUBJECTS

Background and Aims

Sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) protein are inhibitors of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin bone pathway. Pilot data suggest that sclerostin may be involved in vascular changes in CKD, but data on Dkk-1 effects are scarce. This is the first study investigating simultaneously the associations of sclerostin and Dkk-1 with arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients.

Method

80 patients on chronic hemodialysis had carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), central BP and wave reflections evaluated with applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor) in a mid-week non-dialysis day. Serum levels of sclerostin and Dkk-1 were measured with ELISA. A large set of demographic, co-morbid, laboratory and drug parameters were used in the analyses.

Results

Subjects with PWV>9.5 m/sec (high arterial stiffness group, n=40) were older, had higher BMI, higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and coronary-heart-disease and higher peripheral SBP, central SBP, C- reactive protein and serum sclerostin (p=0.02), but similar Dkk-1 compared to subjects with low PWV. When dichotomizing the population by sclerostin levels, those with high sclerostin had higher PWV than patients with low sclerostin levels (10.63±2.71 vs 9.77±3.13, p=0.048). Increased sclerostin (>200 pg/ml) was significantly associated with increased PWV (>9.5 m/s) (HR:2.778, 95%CI:1.123-6.868, per pg/ml increase); this association remained significant after stepwise adjustment for Dkk-1, iPTH and calcium x phosphate product. In contrast, no association was noted between Dkk-1 and PWV (HR: 1.000, 95%CI: 0.416-2.403).

Conclusion

Serum sclerostin is associated with PWV independently of routine markers of CKD-MBD in hemodialysis patients. In contrast Dkk-1 has no association with arterial stiffness and is rather not pathophysiologically involved in relevant vascular changes.

P0763A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ARTERIAL STIFFNESS AND WAVE REFLECTIONS IN DIABETIC AND NON-DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH CKD

Background and Aims

Arterial stiffness is associated with increased risk for target-organ damage, cardiovascular events and overall mortality in the general population, patients with diabetes mellitus and patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) of all stages. This is the first study to evaluate in comparison arterial stiffness and arterial wave reflections in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with CKD.

Method

This study included 48 diabetic and 48 non-diabetic adult patients (>18 years) with CKD (eGFR: <90 και ≥15mL/min/1.73m2), matched in a 1:1 ratio for age, sex and eGFR within each CKD stage (2, 3a, 3b and 4). All patients underwent carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), central blood pressure (BP), and wave reflections measurement with applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor, Atcor Medical, Australia).

Results

Office systolic and diastolic blood pressure was similar between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with CKD in total and across CKD stages. Office brachial pulse pressure (PP) was significantly lower in non-diabetics (49.00±8.0 vs 52.67±8.7 mmHg, p= 0.034). Office PWV was marginally higher in diabetics compared with non-diabetics (10.89±2.0 vs 10.06±2.2 m/sec, p=0.056). In CKD stages 2 and 4, no significant difference in PWV between the two groups was noted, but PWV was higher for diabetics in CKD stages 3a (11.28±1.4 vs 9.83±1.5 m/sec, p=0.023) and 3b (11.13±1.9 vs 9.46±1.2 m/sec, p=0.016). Heart-rate-adjusted augmentation index [AIx(HR75)] was higher in diabetic compared with non-diabetic subjects only in CKD stage 4 (32.08±4.2 vs 25.92±6.6%, p=0.013).

Conclusion

Diabetic CKD patients present higher arterial stiffness than non-diabetic counterparts. The additional contribution of diabetes towards increased arterial stiffness is more prominent in patients with moderately impaired renal function (CKD stage 3a and 3b), whereas at stage 4, PWV was increased independent of diabetes presence.

P0156SHORT-TERM BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY IN DIABETIC AND NON-DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH CKD STAGE 2, 3A, 3B AND 4

Background and Aims

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Previous evidence suggests that BPV is gradually increasing across CKD stages. Whether type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is an additional risk factor for increased BPV has never been studied. The aim of this study is to examine in comparison BPV in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with CKD.

Method

We included 48 diabetic and 48 non-diabetic adult patients (>18 years) with CKD (eGFR: <90 και ≥15mL/min/1.73m2), matched in a 1:1 ratio for age, sex and eGFR within each CKD stage (2, 3a, 3b and 4). All patients underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurement with the Mobil-O-Graph device. Brachial BP variability was calculated with validated formulas. We calculated standard deviation (SD), weighted SD (wSD), coefficient of variation (CV), and average real variability (ARV) of BP during the 24-hour, day- and night-time periods with validated formulas.

Results

In total population, ambulatory systolic BP (SBP) levels were significantly higher in diabetics compared to non-diabetic counterparts in all studied periods. No significant differences were evidence for ambulatory diastolic BP (DBP) in total or across CKD stages. In total, 24-hour SBP SD (15.43±4.34 vs 13.38±3.35, p=0.011), wSD (14.41±4.11 vs 12.53±3.19, p=0.014) and ARV (10.94±2.75 vs 9.46±2.10, p=0.004) were higher in patients with DM compared to those without DM. In addition, 24hour DBP SD (11.04±2.39 vs 9.80±2.28, p=0.010), wSD (10.30±2.52vs 9.05±1.99, p=0.008), CV (14.77±3.05 vs 13.14±2.96, p=0.009) and ARV (8.23±2.10 vs 7.10±1.33, p=0.002) were again different between groups. Across CKD stages 2 and 3a, BPV indices were insignificantly higher in patients with DM. In CKD Stage 3b, 24-hour SBP-SD (16.30±4.52 vs 11.35±2.62, p=0.003), wSD (15.42±4.54 vs 10.77±2.30, p=0.004), ARV (12.46±3.19 vs 8.34±2.07, p=0.001) and 24-hour DBP-CV (14.84±3.63 vs 12.18±1.91, p=0.035) were higher in diabetic compared to non-diabetic patients. In contrast, no difference between groups existed in CKD Stage 4.

Conclusion

Patients with DM present increased BPV in CKD Stages 2, 3a and 3b (moderately impaired renal function). This difference is not apparent in patients with advanced CKD at Stage 4.

P1442CAN THE ASSESSMENT OF ULTRASOUND LUNG WATER IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS BE SIMPLIFIED?

Background and Aims

Lung Ultrasound (US) reliably estimates lung water and it is increasingly applied in clinical practice in dialysis patients. Lung water is currently measured by applying a semi-quantitative US score summing up the US-B lines (an equivalent of B lines in standard X-rays of the thorax) detected in 28 lung intercostal spaces (LIS) (Jambrik Z et al., Am J Cardiol 2004; 93:1265-70). A simplified assessment restricted to 8 LIS only (Gutierrez M et al., Arthritis Research & Therapy, 2011;13:R134) has been proposed. However, the agreement among this simplified score and the reference score has not been studied and the prognostic value of the simplified score (8-LIS) has not been face to face compared with the 28-LIS score.

Method

We included in the analysis in a cohort of 303 hemodialysis (HD) patients in which the pre-dialysis US-BL score was measured at baseline with both the semi-quantitative by Jambrik and the simplified Gutierrez method. The time needed for performing the 28-LIS and the 8-LIS score by six independent assessors with various experience -from low to high- on lung US assessment was accurately measured and recorded. Patients were divided into 4 categories, according to pre-established cut-offs specific for the two methods (28-LIS score: <5; 6-15; 16-30; >30 US-BL; 8-LIS score: <10; 11-20; 21-50; >50 US-BL) The prediction power of these scores for death and fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events was assessed by the explained variance (R2).

Results

The 28-LIS score and the 8-LIS score were highly inter-related (Spearman’s ρ=0.93, P<0.001). During a mean follow-up of 3 years, 112 patients died and 129 experienced a CV event. At univariate and multivariate analysis, both scores were associated to the study outcomes (Tab.1). The explained variance (R2) of the 28-LIS score for death was 4.1% and that for CV events 4.6%. The corresponding R2 of the 8-LIS score were 5.4% (death) and 4.7%, (CV events), to values close to those of the 28-LIS score. Accordingly, when the two scores were separately added to a clinical model including easily available clinical variables (age, gender, smoking, diabetes, cardiovascular comorbidities, cholesterol, arterial pressure, BMI, anti-hypertensive treatment, NYHA class as well as dialysis vintage, hemoglobin, albumin, phosphate and CRP) the R2 of the model including the 28-LIS score (death: 31.1%; CV events: 23.9%) were again very similar to those of the 8-LIS score (30.7% and 23.1%, respectively). The median time needed to perform the examination was 3:05 min (IQR 2:22 – 5:00 min) for the 28 LIS score and 1:35 min (IQR 1:16 – 2:00 min) for the 8 LIS score.

Conclusion

The simplified Gutierrez 8-LIS score is tightly related to the classical Jambrik 28 LIS score and the two scores hold an almost identical predictive power. Even though the 28-LIS score demands less than 5 minutes, the 8-LIS score can be done in only about 90 sec. and it is therefore better suited for application in everyday clinical practice in hemodialysis units.

P0162HEMODIALYSIS AND PERITONEAL DIALYSIS PATIENTS HAVE SEVERELY IMPAIRED ENDOTHELIAL POST-OCCLUSIVE FOREARM VASODILATORY RESPONSE ASSESSED WITH LASER SPECKLE CONTRAST IMAGING

Background and Aims

Endothelial dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular events and mortality in various disease states, including end-stage-renal-disease (ESRD). Novel technological approaches have emerged for real-time assessment of endothelial reactivity. This study examined forearm skin microcirculation using Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCi) before and after arterial occlusion in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD)

Method

38 patients undergoing HD were matched in a 1:1 ratio with 38 PD patients (for age, sex and dialysis vintage) and 38 controls (for age and sex). Skin microvascular reactivity parameters assessed with LSCI included baseline perfusion, occlusion perfusion, and peak perfusion during post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH); time to peak perfusion; proportional change from baseline to peak perfusion; baseline and peak cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC); proportional change from baseline to peak CVC; and the amplitude of the PORH response (calculated as the difference between peak and baseline CVC).

Results

Baseline perfusion [HD: 46.97±14.6; PD: 49.32±18.07; controls: 42.02±11.94 Laser-Specle-Perfusion-Units (LSPU), p=0.097] and peak post-occlusion perfusion (104.77±28.68 vs 109.04±40.77 vs 116.96±30.96 LSPU, p=0.238) did not differ between groups. However, the post-occlusive vascular response was completely different, since time to peak response (HD: 7.24±6.99; PD: 10.68±9.45; controls: 11.11±5.1 sec, p=0.003) and the (%) increase from baseline to peak perfusion (HD: 133%±66; PD: 149%±125; controls: 187%±61, p=0.001) was significantly lower in ESRD patients.

ESRD patients had also lower levels of peak CVC, indicating the maximum capillary recruitment (HD: 1.05±0.3; PD: 1.07±0.44; controls: 1.57±0.52 LSPU/mmHg, p<0.001), lower % increase of CVC at peak (p=0.001), and lower amplitude of the PORH response (p=0.001) (a measure of the difference between baseline and maximum capillary recruitment).

Conclusion

Using this novel non-invasive technology endothelial post-occlusive skin vasodilatory response was found to be similar between HD and PD patients and significantly impaired compared to controls. Future studies are needed to assess the prognostic implications of this microcirculatory functional defect.

P1287A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY INDICES BETWEEN PATIENTS UNDERGOING PERITONEAL DIALYSIS AND THOSE UNDER HEMODIALYSIS OR WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Background and Aims

Blood pressure variability (BPV) indices have been independently associated with cardiovascular events and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Data on short-term BPV in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) are totally absent. This study examined short-term BPV parameters of patients undergoing PD in comparison to HD and pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Method

38 PD patients were matched for age, gender and dialysis vintage with 76 HD in 1:2 ratio patients and for age and gender with 38 patients with CKD stage 2-4 in 1:1 ration. BPV parameters [standard deviation (SD), weighted SD (wSD), coefficient-of-variation (CV) and average-real-variability (ARV)] were calculated from data from 48hour (PD, HD) and 24hour (CKD) ambulatory BP monitoring according to validated formulas.

Results

There were no significant differences in BPV indexes studied between PD and HD patients but all BPV indexes in these patients were numerically higher than those in CKD patients. Systolic ARV was significantly higher in PD or HD compared with predialysis CKD during the first and the second interdialytic 24hour periods, both daytime period and nighttime 2 (1st 24hour period: PD:11.86±3.19; HD:11.23±3.45; CKD:9.81±2.49, p=0.016, 2nd 24hour period: PD: 12.18±4.11; HD: 12.96±4.57; CKD: 9.81±2.49, p<0.001). Analysis of diastolic ARV and systolic and diastolic wSD showed similar results. Τhere were no differences with regards to dipping pattern and systolic and diastolic CV during all periods studied.

Conclusion

BPV indices are similar between PD and HD patients and higher compared to CKD counterparts. Despite what was theoretically expected, PD patients demonstrate high fluctuations in BP in the absence of abrupt shifts in volume.

P1584The prognostic significance of the blood pressure-pulse wave velocity association for cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in hemodialysis patients

Introduction and purpose

Hemodialysis patients have premature arterial stiffness, and the relationship between pulse wave velocity (PWV) and blood pressure (BP) may be different than in other hypertensives. Previous studies showed that when BP decrease is accompanied by PWV decrease the survival is improved. The aim of this study is to examine the prognostic significance of BP sensitivity of PWV for major cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Methods

This is a prospective cohort study including 242 hemodialysis patients [age, 62.6±14.2 years; female, 91 (37.6%); hemodialysis vintage, 41.53±43.46]. All subjects underwent 48-hour-ABPM with Mobil-O-Graph-NG and followed-up for 33.17±19.68 months. The within-individual MBP-PWV association (MBP, dependent and PWV independent variable) was evaluated using the beta-coefficient value from simple linear regression analysis for each patient. The primary end-point was first occurrence of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke. Secondary end-points were: (i) all-cause mortality; (ii) cardiovascular mortality; (iii) a combination of cardiovascular events.

Results

Patients who experienced the primary end-point during follow-up had significantly lower beta-coefficient levels (primary end-point: 19.877±3.975 vs 18.483±3.550, p=0.008). Higher quartiles of beta-coefficients (indicating dependency of PWV on MBP) were associated with higher cumulative freedom from the primary end-point (50.8%, 60.0%, 70.0% and 80.3% for quartiles 1 to 4 respectively; logrank-p=0.001), higher overall survival (60.7%, 61.7%, 73.3%, 86.9%; logrank-p=0.002) and higher cardiovascular survival (78.7%, 75.0%, 81.7%, 91.8% for quartiles 1 to 4; logrank-p=0.044). The future risk for the primary end-point, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and the combined outcome was progressively increasing for lower quartiles of beta-coefficients (HR for all-cause mortality 3.395; 95% CI: 1.524–7.563, p=0.003 for quartile 1 vs quartile 4). Age (OR: 1.046, 95% CI: 1.016–1.077 per year increase, p=0.003) and 48h heart rate (OR: 0.949, 95% CI: 0.916–0.982 per bpm increase, p=0.003) were independently associated with weaker relationship between 48h-MBP and 48h-PWV.

Conclusions

Lower within-individual MBP-PWV association, based on AMBP recordings, is associated with higher risk of death and cardiovascular events in hemodialysis. These findings support that BP-independent arterial stiffness may be the underlying factor for adverse outcomes in these individuals.

P2640The effect of dry-weight reduction guided by lung ultrasound on ambulatory aortic blood pressure and arterial stiffness parameters in hemodialysis patients

Introduction and purpose

Arterial stiffness and aortic blood pressure (BP) augmentation are significantly increased in hemodialysis patients. Recent studies suggest that the prognostic significance of ambulatory recordings of arterial stiffness is high in hemodialysis. This study examines for the first time the effect of dry weight reduction with a standardized lung-ultrasound-guided strategy on ambulatory aortic BP and arterial stiffness parameters in hypertensive hemodialysis patients.

Methods

A total 71 hemodialysis patients with hypertension (mean home BP ≥135/85 mmHg), that were clinically euvolemic, were included in this single-blind randomized clinical trial. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio in the active group (n=35), following a strategy for dry-weight reduction guided by the total number of US-B lines (US-B lines score) prior to a mid-week dialysis session and the control group (n=), following standard-of-care treatment. All patients underwent 48-hour ABPM with the Mobil-O-Graph monitor (IEM, Stolberg, Germany) and PWV measurement in office with SphygmoCor (ArtCor, Sydney, Australia) at baseline and after 8-weeks.

Results

Overall, the US-B lines change during follow-up were −5.3±12.5 in active versus +2.2±7.6 in control group (p<0.001), which corresponded to dry-weight changes of −0.71±1.39 versus +0.51±0.98 kg (p<0.001). The change in 48-hour cSBP was significantly greater in the active group (−6.30±8.90 vs −0.50±12.46, p=0.027); the relevant cDBP fall was marginally greater (−3.85±6.61 vs −0.63±8.36, p=0.077) in the active group. 48-hour cPP (41.51±9.63 vs 39.06±9.61 mmHg, p=0.004) and 48-hour PWV (9.30±2.00 vs 9.08±2.04 m/sec, p=0.032) were significantly reduced from baseline to study-end in the active group but remained unchanged in controls. In contrast, 48-hour AIx and AIx(75) did not change between baseline and study-end in both groups; changes in AIx(75) were similar in the two groups (−0.97±3.51 vs −0.36±4.25, p=0.517). PWV measured in office was decreased from baseline to study-end in the active (10.07±2.66 vs 9.79±2.81, p=0.038) but not in the control group.

Conclusions

A lung-ultrasound-guided strategy for dry-weight reduction reduces ambulatory aortic BP and ambulatory or office PWV, but not ambulatory AIx(75). These results suggest that dry-weight reduction can primarily reduce aortic BP levels and large arteries stiffness but not wave reflections from the periphery.

Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) after Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) and Impact on Outcome

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important post-operative complication that may impact on mortality, morbidity, and cost. The incidence after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) remains unknown, as the current literature has not employed consistent definitions. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence of AKI after elective EVAR and examine the impact of AKI on mortality and cardiovascular morbidity using the current universally accepted definitions.

METHODS

This was a cohort study using prospectively collected data, including consecutive patients undergoing elective EVAR for an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Those with end stage renal failure were excluded. The primary endpoint was incidence of AKI as per the "Acute Kidney Injury Network" (AKIN), and "Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes" (KDIGO) criteria. Secondary endpoints included AKI stage, drop in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and mortality and cardiovascular morbidity.

RESULTS

149 patients were included (16 females, 11%; mean age: 69 ± 8 years; mean AAA diameter: 6.0 ± 1.1 cm), 28 (18.8%) of whom developed AKI (26 patients classified as stage 1 and 2 as stage 2). Within 48 hours, those with AKI dropped their eGFR from 61 ± 20 mL/kg/1.73 m(2) to 51 ± 20 units (p < .001), and those without from 75 ± 9 to 74 ± 10 units (p < .001). None required dialysis during a 33 ± 11 month follow up. Development of AKI was associated with mortality (HR 0.035, 95% CI: 0.005 to 0.240, p < .001) and cardiovascular morbidity (HR: 0.021, 95% CI: 0.004 to 0.11, p < .001) on adjusted regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of AKI after EVAR is significant and is independently associated with medium-term mortality and morbidity.

Effects of combining simvastatin with rosiglitazone on inflammation, oxidant stress and ambulatory blood pressure in patients with the metabolic syndrome: the SIROCO study

AIM

Individually, statins and thiazolidinediones (TZDs) show positive effects on atherosclerosis progression in cellular and animal models as well as patients with diabetes; however, their combined effects have not been studied. This study examines the effects of simvastatin combined with rosiglitazone on vascular inflammation, oxidant stress, ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and other atherosclerotic factors in patients with the metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

This is a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study in 53 subjects with the metabolic syndrome. Participants were randomized to simvastatin 40 mg/day plus placebo vs. simvastatin 40 mg/day plus rosiglitazone 4 mg/day for 6 months. The primary endpoint was the between-group difference in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and secondary variables including urinary isoprostanes, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), ambulatory BP, adiponectin, and lipid and glycaemic profiles.

RESULTS

At study end, the group randomized to the simvastatin/rosiglitazone combination had a greater reduction in hs-CRP of 1.33 mg/dl, (p = 0.029) and showed a trend for a greater reduction in urinary isoprostane (-39%), (p = 0.056) compared to simvastatin/placebo group. Changes in MDA levels did not differed between groups (p = 0.81). 24-h systolic blood pressure (SBP) also showed a 4.5 mmHg reduction at 6 months (p = 0.06). Adiponectin levels increased by 3.91 µg/ml in the combination group over placebo, (p = 0.03) and blood glucose decreased in combination group vs. placebo.

CONCLUSION

Our data show that patients with the metabolic syndrome given a statin/TZD combination manifest greater reductions in markers of vascular inflammation and oxidant stress, 24-h ambulatory BP and increases in adiponectin as well as improved glycaemic indices.

Adaptation and validation of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form questionnaire in the Greek language

AIM

The aim of this study was to examine the validity, reproducibility and internal consistency of a Greek translation of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form (KDQOL-SF) questionnaire.

METHODS

The KDQOL-SF questionnaire was translated from English to Greek and was administered in 240 randomly selected patients undergoing hemodialysis in six Renal Units in Greece. The instrument's validity was tested by examining the association between patient's KDQOL-SF scores and comorbidity assessed with the Index of Coexistent Disease. Reproducibility was examined by readministering the questionnaire in 50 randomly selected patients within 1 month. Internal consistency was assessed by estimating Cronbach's alpha coefficient.

RESULTS

Patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of comorbidity assessed with the Index of Coexistent Disease. Those with less comorbid conditions had significantly higher scores in most components of the KDQOL-SF questionnaire, confirming its validity. The correlation coefficients between the two administrations of the instrument ranged from 0.88 to 0.98 for each of the main components, which was above the desired level of 0.85. Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranged from 0.91 to 0.92 for the various components, values well above the minimum desired 0.70 level.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study shows that the Greek version of the KDQOL-SF questionnaire has high validity, reproducibility and internal consistency. Production of validated translations of the KDQOL-SF questionnaire in various languages will help promote health-related quality of life of end-stage renal disease patients all over the world.