Atherosclerosis risk is higher in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients than in hemodialysis patients.

While it has been reported that myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular disease are more common in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients than in hemodialysis patients, some studies have not supported these results. The aim of this study was to compare CAPD and hemodialysis patients with regard to atherosclerotic changes and to assess which factors might be responsible for atherosclerosis in dialysis patients. Group 1 consisted of 65 CAPD patients, and Group 2 consisted of 109 hemodialysis patients who were age-, gender-, and duration-of-dialysis-matched with CAPD patients. We used ultrasonographic measurement of carotid artery intima media thickness to identify atherosclerosis. Known risk factors for atherosclerosis including hypertension, smoking, serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], albumin, intact parathormone, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein were determined in all patients. More atherosclerotic changes were seen in CAPD than in hemodialysis patients. Of all the atherosclerosis risk factors, only serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, and Lp(a) levels were significantly higher in patients on CAPD.