Cardiac valve calcification is associated with presence and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND

Cardiac valve calcification is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the one of major causes for increased cardiovascular mortality in CKD patients. We hypothesized that cardiac valve calcification is associated with the presence and the severity of CAD in pre-dialysis CKD patients.

METHODS

This study included 1166 patients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography for assessment of cardiac valve calcification and coronary angiography for assessment of CAD. The patients were divided into two groups according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): pre-dialysis CKD group (n = 215, eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and non-CKD group (n = 951, eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)).

RESULTS

In the pre-dialysis CKD group, subjects with aortic valve calcification (AVC), mitral valve calcification (MVC), and at least one valve calcification had more severe CAD compared with those without AVC, MVC, and any valve calcification. Multivariate analysis showed that pre-dialysis CKD patients who had AVC, MVC, and at least one valve calcification were 3.02 times (P = 0.033), 3.73 times (P = 0.029), and 3.31 times (P = 0.012) more likely to have CAD compared with those without AVC, MVC, and any valve calcification, respectively. However, in the non-CKD group, there was no association between cardiac valve calcification and the severity/presence of CAD.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac valve calcification is associated with the presence and severity of CAD in pre-dialysis CKD. Assessment of cardiac valve calcification by means of transthoracic echocardiography could be a valuable non-invasive method for CAD risk stratification in pre-dialysis CKD patients.