Arterial stiffness as pathophysiological and prognostic factor of coronary heart disease in patients with chronic renal disease

E. Kollari, M. Grammatiki, C. Koumaras, I. Papadopoulou, E. Gkaliagkousi, A. Karagiannis

 


Abstract

Arterial stiffness reflects the impact of aging and chronic degenerative diseases on the vascular system. Arterial stiffness’s presence was early associated with increased cardiovascular risk, chronic renal disease or dementia, as well as, with the overall mortality rate. Structural, neuroendocrine, inflammatory and genetic factors are involved into arterial stiffness’s pathophysiology, something that indicates its multifactorial etiology. Nowadays, arterial stiffness can be determined noninvasively, either directly through the determination of the pulse wave velocity, or indirectly through the increase of augmentation index. Several studies correlate the arterial stiffness with the onset, as well as with the severity of coronary disease. Particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease, who are at increased risk of cardiovascular events, the evaluation of arterial stiffness combined with conventional risk factors, may contribute to a better assessment of total cardiovascular risk.

Keywords: Pulse Wave Velocity, Augmentation Index, arterial stiffness, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease