Coronary Artery Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease Using Multidetector Row Spiral Computed Tomography

Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) have been shown to have high coronary calcium scores (CAC), but the temporal association between Glomerular Filtration Rate, CVD risk factors and CAC has not been described. This is a single-center, longitudinal, observational study. Subjects included adults aged 18 years to 65 years old without preexisting coronary artery disease (CAD). The CKD subjects (GFR < 60 ml/min) were recruited from the Nephrology Clinic, and the control subjects (GFR >/=60ml/min) were recruited from the Internal Medicine Clinic. Laboratory measurements and MDCT scan were performed at baseline and after 12 months. Baseline CAC and average intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level were significantly greater in the CKD group. Baseline CAC scores of the CKD group were twice the value of the control group; however, CAC scores over one year were unchanged from baseline. These observations suggest that CAC begins in earlier stages of CKD. Moreover, novel CVD risk factors including iPTH may accelerate CAD progression in CKD.