Objectives:

Medial vascular calcification is highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and it is a risk factor for mortality. This study characterizes the time course and the link between calcification of major arteries, changes in blood pressure (BP) and cardiac growth in experimental CKD.

Methods:

CKD (elevated serum creatinine and urea) was induced with a 0.25% adenine diet (5, 8 and 11 weeks). BP was measured by radiotelemetry in conscious rats or indwelling catheter under anaesthesia. At each time point, serum biochemistry and tissue calcification was quantified.

Results:

CKD was present in all animals by 5 weeks and the ensuing 6 weeks (11 weeks total). CKD animals developed elevated serum phosphate (5–8 weeks) and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23; 5–11 weeks) levels. There was a 100% incidence of calcification at 11 weeks, 71% at 8 weeks and 33% at 5 weeks, and distal arteries appeared more susceptible than proximal arteries. Calcification was associated with widening of pulse pressure (PP), and a higher pulse wave. Continuous radiotelemetry revealed a significant increase in SBP variability and an accelerated (< 24 h) elevation in PP of at least 10 mmHg following 8 weeks of CKD. This precipitous change was driven by a drop in mean DBP rather than elevated mean SBP. PP, duration of CKD and FGF-23 levels correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Conclusion:

The unique haemodynamic consequences of medial calcification, combined with the hormonal consequences of hyperphosphatemia (ie FGF-23), seem to have an exacerbated risk for left ventricular hypertrophy.