Serum aluminum level correlates with arterial stiffness in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: In addition to pulse wave velocity (PWV), serum aluminum level is predictive of mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients. This cross-sectional study evaluated the correlations between serum aluminum and brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV). METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven HD patients (average age 58.46 +/- 9.95 years) were enrolled. Medical data were obtained via chart reviews and hospital database. Associations between biomarker levels and baPWV were analysed by multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Serum aluminum, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), age, pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are important correlates of baPWV. CONCLUSION: Further, hsCRP, PP, age and DM are positively related to arterial stiffness in HD patients.