Open Access
Aortic Calcification Affects Noninvasive Estimates of Central Blood Pressure in Patients with Severe Chronic Kidney Disease
Author(s) -
Carlsen Rasmus Kirkeskov,
Winther Simon,
Peters Christian D.,
Laugesen Esben,
Khatir Dinah S.,
Bøtker Hans E.,
Bøttcher Morten ,
Ivarsen Per,
Svensson My,
Buus Niels Henrik
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
kidney and blood pressure research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.806
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1423-0143
pISSN - 1420-4096
DOI - 10.1159/000501226
Subject(s) - research article
Background: Central blood pressure (BP) assessed noninvasively considerably underestimates true invasively measured aortic BP in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The difference between the estimated and the true aortic BP increases with decreasing estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR). The present study investigated whether aortic calcification affects noninvasive estimates of central BP. Methods: Twenty-four patients with CKD stage 4–5 undergoing coronary angiography and an aortic computed tomography scan were included (63% males, age [mean ± SD ] 53 ± 11 years, and eGFR 9 ± 5 mL/min/1.73 m2). Invasive aortic BP was measured through the angiography catheter, while non-invasive central BP was obtained using radial artery tonometry with a SphygmoCor® device. The Agatston calcium score (CS) in the aorta was quantified on CT scans using the CS on CT scans. Results: The invasive aortic systolic BP (SBP) was 152 ± 23 mm Hg, while the estimated central SBP was 133 ± 20 mm Hg. Ten patients had a CS of 0 in the aorta, while 14 patients had a CS >0 in the aorta. The estimated central SBP was lower than the invasive aortic SBP in patients with aortic calcification compared to patients without (mean difference 8 mm Hg, 95% CI 0.3–16; p = 0.04). The brachial SBP was lower than the aortic SBP in patients with aortic calcification compared to patients without (mean difference 10 mm Hg, 95% CI 2–19; p = 0.02). Conclusion: In patients with advanced CKD the presence of aortic calcification is associated with a higher difference between invasively measured central aortic BP and non-invasive estimates of central BP as compared to patients without calcifications.