Do higher dialysate calcium concentrations increase vascular stiffness in haemodialysis patients as measured by aortic pulse wave velocity?

Abstract

Pulse wave velocity increased over the six months study. As pulse wave velocity increased in the group dialysing using the lowest dialysate calcium, it is likely that factors, other than simple net calcium influx and efflux during dialysis according to dialysate calcium concentration are involved with vascular stiffening.