Cardiac valve calcification in hemodialysis patients and related risk factors

Objective To observe the cardiac valve calcification(VC) in uremic hemodialysis patients and to analyze the related risk factors. Methods The color doppler ultrasonography was performed on 222 uremic hemodialysis patients to detect the cardiac VC. The patients were divided into two groups: VC group and no VC group. The SGA score, blood pressure,hemoglobin, plasma albumin, pre albumin, lipid profile, calcium, phosphate, C responsive protein(CRP) and parathyroid hormone before dialysis were determined.Results Compared with patients with no VC,patients with VC were older, had longer renal failure and hypertension course,higher proportion of patients with moderate to severe malnutrition, plasma calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone and CRP, lower serum albumin and pre albumin. Conclusion Aging, course of renal failure and hypertension, smoking habit, abnormal calcium phosphate metabolism, secondary hyperparathyroidism,inflammation and malnutrition are associated with cardiac VC. The major risk factors for cardiac VC are inflammation and malnutrition.