Pulse wave velocity may predict silent myocardial ischemia in hemodialysis patients

In ischemic heart disease (IHD) of hemodialysis patients, silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) may occur without subjective symptoms. Early diagnosis of type 1 SMI is important, because acute myocardial infarction may develop suddenly without angina pectoris. We reviewed pulse wave velocity (PWV) of 10 hemodialysis patients diagnosed as type 1 SMI by coronary angiography. The extent and severity of IHD were assessed by the coronary severity index (CSI). As a result, CSI correlated significantly with PWV. Our findings indicate that PWV may predict type 1 SMI in hemodialysis patients.