Effects of Lowering Dialysate Calcium Level on Progression of Coronary Artery Calcification and Bone Histomorphometry

The high rate of cardiovascular complications in the dialysis population cannot be explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factors. One of such factors proposed to contribute to the cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patient population is vascular calcification possibly resulting from disturbances of calcium-phosphate metabolism. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of treatment with dialysate containing 1.75 or 1.5 mmol/L to 1.25 mmol/L calcium regarding coronary artery calcification and bone histomorphometry in hemodialysis patients.