Study summary: Patients with chronic kidney disease may have calcium deposits in their blood vessels. Calcium deposits in blood vessels, also called vascular calcification, may lead to heart attack, heart failure and eventually death. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between a new blood calcification test and vascular calcification in people with chronic kidney disease. If the new blood calcification test can predict the development of vascular calcification, it may also be used to prevent and guide future treatment for vascular calcification.

Principal investigator: Wei Chen, MD

Major criteria to enter the study: Adults with estimated glomerular filtration rate <25 ml/min/1.73m2 (kidney function approximately less than 25%), who have a scheduled vascular access surgery (arteriovenous fistula or graft) at Montefiore.