Gene expression changes in venous segments of overflowing arteriovenous fistulae

This study characterized the coordinated molecular changes evoked in the structure and composition of the wall of a venous segment exposed to high fistula flow. Venous tissues were obtained from the venous segments of overflowing arteriovenous (AV) fistulae present in 6 hemodialysis patients and from normal cephalic veins of 4 hemodialysis patients. Total RNA was extracted from these samples, and gene expression was compared between groups using a Whole Human Genome DNA microarray 44K kit.