No abstract

Visceral fat has been known to associate with atherosclerosis, inflammation, and insulin resistance. However, the influence of visceral fat on cardiovascular disease (CVD) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients has never been elucidated. We investigated whether visceral fat thickness (VFT) has a predictive role in carotid atherosclerosis determined by carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT) in PD patients. A cross‐sectional study was undertaken in 88 prevalent PD patients. BMI and waist circumference (WC) were measured as anthropometric indexes of obesity. VFT and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) were determined by sonographic measurement of abdominal fat. Carotid atherosclerosis was defined as increased cIMT (>1.0 mm) or presence of plaque. Thirty‐two (36.3%) patients had carotid atherosclerosis. Patients with carotid atherosclerosis showed significantly higher VFT, BMI, and WC. In univariate logistic analysis, BMI, WC, and VFT except SFT were significant risk factors of carotid atherosclerosis. However, multivariate analysis revealed VFT was an independent factor associated with carotid atherosclerosis after adjusting for demographic, biochemical parameters, and anthropometric indexes (per 1 mm increase, odds ratio (OR) = 2.294, 95% confidence interval: 1.048–5.021, P = 0.038). When the patients were divided into three groups according to VFT, log high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), and homeostasis model assessment‐insulin resistance (HOMAIR) were both higher in the third tertile compared to other tertiles. In conclusion, VFT, not SFT, is independently associated with carotid atherosclerosis in PD patients. Therefore sonographic measurement of VFT could be useful to stratify the risk of cardiovascular disease in PD patients.

PurposeCinacalcet is effective for treating refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), but little is known about the response rates and clinical factors influencing the response.Materials and MethodsA prospective, single-arm, multi-center study was performed for 24 weeks. Cinacalcet was administered to patients with intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level greater than 300 pg/mL. Cinacalcet was started at a dose of 25 mg daily and titrated until 100 mg to achieve a serum iPTH level <300 pg/mL (primary end point). Early response to cinacalcet was defined as a decrease of iPTH more than 50% within one month.ResultsFifty-seven patients were examined. Based on the magnitude of iPTH decrease, patients were divided into responder (n=47, 82.5%) and non-responder (n=10, 17.5%) groups. Among the responders, 38 achieved the primary end point, whereas 9 patients showed a reduction in serum iPTH of 30% or more, but did not reach the primary end point. Compared to non-responders, responders were significantly older (p=0.026), female (p=0.041), and diabetics (p<0.001). Additionally, early response was observed more frequently in the responders (30/47, 63.8%), of whom the majority (27/30, 90.0%) achieved the primary end point. Multivariate analysis showed that lower baseline iPTH levels [odds ratio (OR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93-0.99], the presence of diabetes (OR 46.45, CI 1.92-1125.6) and early response (OR 21.54, CI 2.94-157.7) were significant clinical factors affecting achievement of iPTH target.ConclusionCinacalcet was effective in most hemodialysis patients with refractory SHPT. The presence of an early response was closely associated with the achievement of target levels of iPTH.

Background: Although various modalities of hemodialysis (HD) are presumed to have different effects on insulin resistance (IR), the relationship between hemodiafiltration (HDF) and IR has not been fully evaluated. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 82 non-diabetic HD patients were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA-IR) value of 1.685. Clinical and biochemical data were compared, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent factors associated with higher HOMA-IR. Results: The higher HOMA-IR group had increased body mass index (BMI), decreased HDL cholesterol, and lower beta-2 microglobulin reduction rate (β2-MG RR) compared to the lower HOMA-IR group. HOMA-IR was significantly correlated with β2-MG RR. In addition, HDF patients had lower HOMA-IR levels compared with low flux hemodialysis patients. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, BMI and HDF treatment were independent factors associated with higher and lower HOMA-IR, respectively. Conclusion: This study suggests that HDF treatment may reduce IR in non-diabetic HD patients.