Objective   To explore the pathological changes of the middle-small arteries and veins of uremic patients in early stage.    Methods   Forty patients with chronic kidney disease at Ⅴ stage were randomly subjected in our study. Radial artery and cephalic vein about 0.5 to 1 cm in length were obtained by arteriovenous fistula operations. Cephalic veins from 4 trauma patients were taken as control group. Immunohistochemisty with anti-α-SMA (smooth muscle actin-alpha)

BMP-2 (bone morphology protein-2) and BMP-7 (bone morphology protein-7) antibodies

alizarin Bordeaux staining

HE staining and Masson trichrome staining were carried out to investigate calcification and fibrosis.    Results   Compared with control group

the expressions of α-SMA and BMP-2 were up-regulated obviously. Masson trichrome staining indicated fibrosis in the vein from uremic patients.    Conclusion   Fibrosis may be one of the early pathologic changes in the vein from uremic patients

suggesting the venous alterations may be related to cardiovascular disease of uremic patients.