Increased calcification and protein nitration in arteries of chronic kidney disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD) has peculiar characteristics. The aim of this study was to analyze atherosclerosis, vascular calcification and nitration in arteries from CKD patients.

METHODS: External iliac and renal artery segments from 27 stage 5 CKD patients and 25 donor controls, respectively, were collected during the transplantation procedure.

RESULTS: CKD patients presented a significantly higher degree of lesion. In a large proportion (72%) of CKD patients, we observed vascular calcifications. Immunohistochemistry for nitrotyrosine revealed a significant increase in nitrotyrosine production in arteries from CKD patients compared with control donors. In addition, within CKD patients, nitrotyrosine staining was significantly stronger in arteries with media calcification when compared with arteries without media calcification.

CONCLUSION: The arteriopathy in the CKD patients appears in an early age and seems to be distinct from the arteriopathy of the general population, especially due to intense calcification and vascular oxidative stress.