Background: Atherosclerotic vascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal diseases on maintenance hemodialysis. Early atherosclerotic changes of the arterial wall can be evaluated by measuring intima-media thickness (IMT), and looking for the presence and structure of plaques and parameters of vascular resistance. In this study we investigated the relationship between carotid IMT and pulsatility index (PI) or resistive index (RI) values in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: Sixty hemodialysis patients (27 females and 33 males; median age 41.7 years) and 60 healthy volunteers (32 females and 28 males, median age 37.8 years) underwent ultrasonography of common carotid artery for the determination of IMT, PI and RI.

Results: Bilateral IMT was significantly higher in hemodialysis patients than in control group (P<0.001). Left carotid artery RI and PI were found to be significantly higher in hemodialysis patients than in the controls (P<0.001). Right carotid artery RI and PI had no significant statistical differences between the two groups (P=0.18 and P=0.78, respectively). There was a moderately significant negative correlation between the left carotid IMT and left RI and PI in the controls (r= -0.42, P=0.001 and r=- 0.43, P<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: PI and RI values of the left coronary artery increased as did IMT in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, measurement of RI and PI values together with IMT are recommended for early diagnosis of atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patient.