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. 2020 Jun 16;134(12):1333–1356. doi: 10.1042/CS20200279

Table 3. Microvascular density in humans with CKD: autopsy, biopsy and nailfold capillaroscopy studies.

First author (type of study) Year N patients/controls CKD stage Organ examined Main findings Method Ref.
Lewis (Biopsy) 1985 60 on dialysis/21 controls M. vastus lateralis Capillary/fiber ratio decreased (−34%) in dialysis patients CD31 antibody staining [191]
Amann (Autopsy) 1998 9 on dialysis/9 with essential HTN/10 controls Heart MV density significantly lower compared with patients with HTN (−21%) or normotensive controls (−49%). Interstitial tissue significantly increased in dialyzed patients Lectin staining [53]
Sakkas (Biopsy) 2003 22 with stage 5 CKD, pre-dialysis/20 controls M. rectus abdominis (statomotor) Capillary/fiber ratio −20%, general muscle fiber atrophy (−20%) in CKD pts α-amylase PAS stain [56]
Sakkas (Biopsy) 2003 24 on HD M. gastrocnemius (locomotor) before and after 6 months aerobic exercise Increase in cross-sectional fiber area by 46% and capillary contact per fiber by 24% after exercise training α-amylase PAS stain [57]
Charytan (Autopsy) 2014 17 with stage 3–4 CKD, 7 on dialysis/21 controls Heart MV density decreased by 12% in CKD and 16% in dialysis patients. Interstitial fibrosis increased by 12% in CKD and 77% in dialysis patients. EndMT increased by 17% in CKD and dialysis patients CD31 antibody staining [54]
Nissel (Capillaroscopy) 2009 6 with CKD stage 3–4, 9 on dialysis/15 controls Nailfold Capillary density decreased by 26% at baseline Nailfold capillary microscopy [60]
Thang (Capillaroscopy) 2011 19 with stage 5 CKD (predialysis), 20 HD, 15 PD; 19 controls Nailfold Capillary density reduced in CKD groups at baseline (–25, 20%), during reactive hyperemia and during venous occlusion Nailfold capillary microscopy [58]
Edwards-Richards (Capillaroscopy) 2014 19 on HD/20 controls Nailfold Capillary density reduced by 24% at baseline and 31% after 6 months in HD patients Nailfold capillary microscopy [59]
Burkhardt (Biopsy) 2016 23 children stage 5 CKD predialysis/32 controls Omentum MV surface area 36% (manual imaging) and 51% (automated imaging) lower vs. controls CD31 antibody staining [61]
Von Stillfried (CT angiography postmortem/in patients) 2016 9 CKD (stage 3 and 4) 8 controls Kidney Capillary density reduced by 39%/59% in cortex and 32%/49% in medulla CD31 antibody staining [62]