AimTo evaluate the association between carotid arterial stiffness and silent cerebral infarction(SCI) in hemodialysis patients.MethodsTotally 218 hemodialysis patients in our hospital from January 2006 to January 2011 were included in this study.Their clinical and laboratory data were collected.Artherial stiffness index β of common carotid artery was evaluated by an ultrasonic phase-lock Echo-tracking system.Carotid intima media thickness (IMT) was measured by ultrasonography.Carotid plaque score was calculated to quantify the extent of carotid atherosclerosis (CAs) using Sutton’methods.ResultsPearson’s correlation analysis revealed that artherial stiffness parameter β was positively correlated with age, duration of dialysis, mean IMT, and plaque score (p<0.05).Stepwise regression analysis revealed that pulse pressure (β=0.501, p<0.001) and age (β=0.488, p<0.001) were found to be independent determinants of stiffness parameter β, while mean IMT and plaque score as covariates.In addition, stiffness parameter β in patients with SCI was significantly higher than those in patients without SCI (p<0.001), and yet mean IMT and plaque score had no significant difference in both groups.ConclusionThe increased carotid arterial stiffness was associated with the presence of arteriosclerosis and with the presence of SCI in hemodialysis patients.