Abstract: Objective To evaluate the arterial stiffness in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients and to investigate the risk factors for arterial stiffness. Methods A total of 80 non-diabetic hemodialysis patients were recruited. The distensibility coefficient(DC) of the common carotid artery was evaluated by an ultrasonic phase-locked echo-tracking system. Serum albumin, total cholesterol(TC), high density lipoprotein(HDL), low density lipoprotein(LDL), triglyceride(TG), glucose, creatinine, high sensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP), calcium, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone(iPTH) were determined with standard methods. Results Carotid DC was(14.47±5.19)(10^-3/kPa) in the non-diabetic hemodialysis patients studied. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, systolic blood pressure(β=-0.340, P<0.01), age(β=-0.248, P<0.05), and serum calcium(β=-0.199, P<0.05) were independently correlated with carotid DC. Conclusion Systolic blood pressure, age, and serum calcium were independent determinants for carotid arterial stiffness in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients.

Key words: arterial stiffness, hemodialysis, non-diabetic