Affiliations: [a] Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden
| [b] Department of Nephrology, Skaraborg Hospital, Skovde, Sweden
| [c] Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, Umea, Sweden
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Ursula Hadimeri, Department of Radiology, Skaraborg Hospital, SE-541 85 Skövde, Sweden. Fax: +46500432459; E-mail: ursula.hadimeri@vgregion.se.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: A native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is recommended for angio access in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD). Fistula patency has been improved by exposure to Far Infrared light (FIR). OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a single FIR treatment could alter blood velocity, AVF diameter or inflammatory markers. METHODS: Thirty patients with a native AVF in the forearm were included. Each patient was his/her own control. Ultrasound (US) examinations were performed before and after a single FIR treatment. RESULTS: A single FIR treatment resulted in a significant increase in blood velocity over the AV fistula from a mean of 2.1 ± 1.0 m/s to 2.3 ± 1.0 m/s (p = 0.02). The diameter of the arterialized vein became wider; 0,72 cm ± 0.02 to 0,80 cm ± 0.02, (p = 0.006). The increase in fistula blood velocity correlated positively with base line serum- urate p = 0.004) and the increase in venous diameter with the base line plasma orosomucoid concentration (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that a single FIR treatment significantly increased AVF blood velocity and vein diameter. Thus, one FIR treatment can help maturation of AVF in the early postoperative course.
Keywords: Ultrasound, vascular access, Far Infrared therapy, hemodialysis
