Abstract: Objective The aim of our study is to find out whether atherosclerosis of dialysis patients is effectively accelerated due to the fact that many such patients at the start of dialysis treatment. Methods Using B-mode ultrasonography, we conducted a cross-sectional study to compare intima-media thickness in the common carotid arteries(CC), in the area of bifurcation(CB) and in the proximal part of internal carotid arteries(CI) for 45 MHD patients, of which 23 patients had chronic kidney diseases not subjected to hemodialysis(CKD-non-HD) and 20 healthy volunteers of matching age. Results There were no significant differences among the IMT values of CC, CB and CI as control in dialysis patients and patients starting dialysis treatment. We also failed to find any difference in atherosclerotic risk factors, such as lipids, smoking and blood pressures between both groups. Conclusion In our study we found no differences in carotid atherosclerosis lesions between MHD patients and CKD-non-HD patients. Patients with end-stage renal disease are at high risk for cardiovascular diseases so we should intervene earlier and more actively long before dialysis treatment in order to reduce the atherosclerotic risk factors.

Key words: end-stage renal disease, atherosclerosis, intima-media thickness