Atherosclerosis and folic acid supplementation trial in chronic renal failure: Baseline results

Abstract

Compared to normals, patients with CRF exhibited a 10-15-year shift to the right in age-related increases in carotid IMT and PWV (a-f), and significantly increased central pressure augmentation. This 5-year study is examining the impact of high-dose folic acid therapy on cardiovascular end-points, IMT progression and arterial function in CRF.

Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality in the Atherosclerosis and Folic Acid Supplementation Trial (ASFAST) in Chronic Renal Failure

“…In the present cohort of CRF patients we did not find a relationship between baseline carotid IMT and homocysteine level (20). Despite modest homocysteine lowering, high-dose folic acid therapy had no effect on atheroma progression, measured by mean maximum carotid IMT, over the five-year period.…”

“…The detailed protocol including study design, rationale, organization, measurements, power calculations, and baseline results have been published previously (20). Subjects.…”

Folic acid 5 or 15 mg/d similarly reduces plasma homocysteine in patients with moderate–advanced chronic renal failure

“…Patients with CRF exhibit a 10–15‐year shift to the right in indices of arterial structure and function and particularly high morbidity and mortality due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disorders in contrast to age and gender‐matched individuals, 32–34 and although the role of elevated plasma Hcy in the generation and progression of these abnormalities has not clearly been established; the treatment of moderate to severe hyperhomocysteinaemia could improve outcome, 17,35–37 …”

Folic acid supplementation to prevent adverse events in individuals with chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease

“…One of these, the FAVORIT study [10], is examining the effect of homocysteine lowering in 4000 renal transplant patients as there are data to suggest that treatment with folic acid can normalize homocysteine in this population. The Atherosclerosis and Folic Acid Supplementation Trial (ASFAST) [11] will evaluate the effect of folic acid supplementation on CVD outcome and endothelial function in 315 predialysis and dialysis patients.…”