Plasma concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide increase during haemodialysis: relation to blood pressure*

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Abstract
Odar-Cederlöf I, Theodorsson E, Eriksson C-G, Kjellstrand CM (Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine and Department of Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden). Plasma concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide increase during haemodialysis: relation to blood pressure. The authors measured the plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), the most potent vasodilatator known, during sequential ultrafiltration and haemodialysis in 12 patients using a radio-immunoassay method. Mean plasma levels of CGRP were 70.3 ± 16.5 (mean ± SE) pmol l−1 at the start of treatment, it increased to 85.3 ± 17.6 pmol l−1 during ultrafiltration and to 114.5 ± 25.3 pmol l−1 during dialysis. Systolic blood pressure decreased during haemodialysis. Plasma levels of CGRP were negatively correlated to systolic blood pressure before and at the end of dialysis, and changes in plasma levels of CGRP were strongly correlated to changes in systolic blood pressure. The increase in CGRP levels was not correlated to the fluid removal, toxin removal or changes in osmolality. The increase in plasma levels of CGRP observed during dialysis may be an important cause of dialysis induced vasodilatation and fall in blood pressure.