Research

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and vascular dysfunction. Dou and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials involving 429 CKD patients. Results showed that Vitamin D treatment correlated with a significant decrease in pulse wave velocity, indicating reduced arterial stiffness. Interestingly, no significant differences in blood pressure were observed. Therefore, these findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation may improve vascular health by reducing arterial stiffness, independent of blood pressure changes.

In individuals with severely dysfunction kidneys, hemodialysis enables filtration of blood but in turn it significantly increases cardiovascular burden. Debowska and colleagues found that pulse wave analysis features (systolic, augmented and pulse pressure) were significantly different at the end of dialysis. The subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) was strongly correlated with hydration levels during hemodialysis. The estimation of SEVR from the aortic waveform specifically helps inform fluid management during treatment to maintain cardiac function. Pulse-wave analysis parameters are easily measurable and accessible which monitor sudden cardiovascular changes which can help prevent overhydration during hemodialysis treatment. 

The team led by Laurent investigated the correlation between vascular function and cognitive decline in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The findings suggest that both arterial stiffness (cf-PWV), and central pulse pressure are elevated in CKD patients with known cognitive decline, as assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The observed correlation of vascular health with both brain function and CKD proposes that patients may experience parallel deterioration. Early detection of elevated central pulse pressure and arterial stiffening could help not only identify risk of CKD but also help mitigate cognitive decline and improve overall outcomes.