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Objective Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for not only cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but also chronic kidney disease (CKD). Ezetimibe, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, lowers cholesterol levels by inhibiting both extrinsic and intrinsic cholesterol absorption via the gastrointestinal duct. However, very few studies have examined its efficacy and safety for patients with dyslipidemia complicated with CKD. Methods Thirty-seven dyslipidemic patients (low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels ! 120 mg/ dL) complicated with CKD were given ezetimibe (10 mg/day) for twenty-four weeks. The efficacy and safety of the therapy, including the anti-atherosclerotic and renal protective effects, were then examined. Results Significant decreases were observed in the levels of LDL-C (158.9±26.9 mg/dL 123.0±31.8 mg/ dL; p<0.0001), remnant-like lipoprotein cholesterol (9.3±5.3 mg/dL 7.3±3.8 mg/dL; p<0.05) and lipoprotein (a) (22.0±16.1 mg/dL 16.4±11.0 mg/dL; p<0.01). The estimated glomerular filtration rate did not change, but the urine protein to creatinine ratio decreased significantly (1,107.3±1,454.2 mg/gCre 732.1±1,237.8 mg/gCre; p<0.05). No changes were observed in the carotid intima media thickness, but the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity decreased significantly (1,770.4±590.3 cm/sec 1,702.5±519.9 cm/sec; p<0.05). No adverse events were observed. Conclusion Ezetimibe can be safely administered even to patients with CKD. The results of this study indicate that ezetimibe may provide some renal protection and suppress the complications of CVD in CKD patients.

SummaryArterial stiffness is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with end-stage renal failure. However, little is known about the factors that contribute to arterial rigidity in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The aim of this study was to define the pattern and determinants of the longitudinal change in arterial stiffness after PD initiation.Arterial stiffening was estimated for 46 PD patients by using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). The cross-sectional relationship between the arterial markers and their clinical determinants was studied. The longitudinal effects of blood pressure (BP), body fluid status, and glucose were studied over the two years after initiating PD.Multivariate analysis showed that higher baPWV was associated positively with urinary protein excretion (P < 0.001), systolic BP (P = 0.001), and hemoglobin A1c (P = 0.003). In contrast, increased cIMT correlated with smoking (P = 0.004) and hypoalbuminemia (P = 0.04), suggesting that endothelial dysfunction is implicated in the atherogenic process. Neither cIMT nor baPWV correlated significantly with other PD-related covariates of volume overload, peritoneal solute transport, kidney function, and C-reactive protein. Longitudinal observation demonstrated that BP had a greater influence on baPWV changes than hyperglycemia or fluid status.Our study indicates that 1) baPWV represent an arterial marker that integrates multifactorial interaction between modifiable variables including BP and plasma glucose; and 2) intervention aimed at controlling BP as well as nutritional conditions (glucose and albumin) may reduce CVD risk in PD patients. (Int Heart J 2017; 58: 915-925)

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A 73-year-old male undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) for end-stage renal disease due to diabetic nephropathy was diagnosed with aortic stenosis and was admitted to our hospital in September, 2009. The patient underwent replacement of the ascending aorta with an artificial blood vessel plus aortic valve replacement without any notable complications. PD was restarted 3 days after the surgery and large amounts of light red fluid from the drain placed in the pericardium were observed just after resumption of PD solution. The patient was diagnosed with peritoneopericardial communication. PD was discontinued and hemodialysis was performed only with intermittent lavage of the peritoneal cavity. The amount of drainage was spontaneously decreased, and on the 17th day after surgery, PD was resumed. The patient is undergoing PD without recurrence of peritoneopericardial communication, 59 months after the onset of symptoms. Peritoneopericardial communication in a patient with PD developing after open-heart surgery is rare because such a case has been documented in only one case report. However, since massive pericardial effusion may cause severe cardiac problems, we consider that the communication between the peritoneal cavity and the pericardium needs to be checked for in patients with PD after cardiac surgery.