【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the characteristics of central aortic pressure (CAP) and artery stiffness in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods CAP and augment index (AI) were measured by non-invasive radial artery pulse wave measurement device in 40 MHD patients and 40 non-chronic kidney disease (non-CKD) individuals with the age and gender numbers comparable to MHD patients. Brachial systolic pressure (BSP), CAP, AI, and difference between BSP and CAP were compared between MHD and non-CKD subjects. Results BSP and CAP were highly correlated in both non-CKD patients (r= 0.914, P<0.01) and MHD patients (r=0.926, P<0.01). However, greater difference (8.9 mmHg or 1.18kPa) and variation (95% CI reached to 28.6 mm Hg or 3.8kPa) between SBP and CAP was also found. CAP was 125.4±20.8 mm Hg in MHD younger than 50 years old, and 138.4+15.0 mm Hg in those more than 50 years old, lower than their respective BSP but higher than the CAP in non-CKD patients (P<0.05). AI was 85.5±18.5% in MHD younger than 50 years old and 84.6±12.1% in those more than 50 years old, without significant differences as compared with the AI in non-CKD patients (P >0.05). The percentage of increased AI was higher in MHD under 50 years old (82%) than non-CKD (35%, P=0.008). In MHD patients, AI was moderately correlated to CAP (r=0.523, P=0.001), but not to their age (r = 0.137, P>0.05) and BSP (r = 0.200, P>0.05). In MHD patients after hemodialysis session, CAP and BSP decreased but not AI (89.6±18.7% vs. 86.0±15.9%, P=0.212). AI value was higher in patients with internal arteriovenous fistula than in those with cuffed-catheterization (90.8±15.0% vs. 76.2±10.3%, P=0.001). Conclusion The increase of CAP and artery stiffness was observed in MHD patients. Further research is needed to observe whether treatments for decrease of CAP and improvement of artery stiffness are useful for MHD patients.
