Aortic stiffness and valvular calcifications in patients with end-stage renal disease

Abstract

Patients with ESRD are characterized by increased aortic stiffness. Atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta as well as cardiac and large vessels calcifications are more common among patients with ESRD. In patients with ESRD there is a correlation between an increase in aortic stiffness and damage of aortic valvular leaflets as well as calcifications of atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta. The degree of aortic stiffness is not related to impairment of mitral valvular leaflets and extravalvular calcifications. A relationship between aortic stiffness and aortic or aortic valve calcifications suggest a different pathogenesis of aorta calcification as compared to that underlying calcifications of other localizations.