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ST. LOUIS, Apr 01, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- U.S. scientists have linked kidney damage and cardiac problems, creating new possibilities for treating the primary cause of death in kidney disease patients.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine found kidney damage weakens the skeleton, which increases the amount of phosphorous in the blood. Higher phosphorous levels are directly linked to vascular calcification, a stiffening of the smooth muscle cells that line blood vessels. Vascular calcification leads to enlargement of one of the heart's four chambers, increased risk of congestive heart failure, heart attack and several other cardiac problems.
Researchers induced kidney damage in mice through genetic modification and high cholesterol diets. The mice treated with an experimental medication to alleviate the skeletal weakening had normal phosphorous levels and decreased signs of vascular calcification.
"We already have treatments available that can control phosphorous levels in the blood and those should be very helpful for kidney patients," said senior investigator Keith A. Hruska. "The drug we used in the mice and other similar agents can treat both the phosphorous levels and skeletal weakening, and those drugs are just entering initial clinical trials."
Copyright 2005 by United Press International.
