Bram Kroon

Professor

Bram Kroon is Pprofessor of Vascular Medicine and Chair of the section of Vascular Medicine of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Maastricht UMC+, and since 2013 Principal Investigator for 'vascular complications of diabetes and hypertension' with a special focus on hypertension and arterial stiffening at CARIM. Bram (A.A.) Kroon (born Geleen, 1959) obtained an MD at the Radboud University in Nijmegen (1984). He was registered as internist in 1990 and obtained a PhD in 1996 (Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen). In 2010, he accepted the position as Chair of the section of Vascular Medicine, a subdivision of the Department of Internal Medicine. In 2016, he was appointed Professor of Vascular Medicine. Nationwide, he holds the Chair of educational board for Vascular Medicine specialists and is member of the Concilium Medicinae Internae since 2015. He is a board member of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Working Group of Intervention Treatment of Hypertension and a member of the ESH Working Group of Hypertension and the Kidney.

Department of Internal Medicine
P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht 
PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht
T: +31 (0)43 387 50 05 (4)

  • 2021
    • Veldhuizen, G. P., Alnazer, R. M., Kroon, A. A., & de Leeuw, P. W. (2021). Confounders of the aldosterone-to-renin ratio when used as a screening test in hypertensive patients: A critical analysis of the literature. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 23(2), 201-207. https://doi.org/10.1111/jch.14117
  • 2020
    • Sharma, S., Katz, R., Bullen, A. L., Chaves, P. H. M., de Leeuw, P. W., Kroon, A. A., Houben, A. J. H. M., Shlipak, M. G., & Ix, J. H. (2020). Intact and C-Terminal FGF23 Assays-Do Kidney Function, Inflammation, and Low Iron Influence Relationships With Outcomes?Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 105(12), Article 665. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaa665
    • van de Velde, L., Collard, D., Spiering, W., van Brussel, P. M., Versmissen, J., Wierema, T., de Haan, M. W., Zijlstra, I. A. J., Kroon, A. A., Vogt, L., de Leeuw, P. W., van Twist, D., & van den Born, B. J. H. (2020). New diagnostic and treatment strategies in renal artery stenosis: a promising pursuit or disappointment foretold?Netherlands Journal of Medicine, 78(5), 232-238. https://www.njmonline.nl/getpdf.php?id=2242
    • Zhou, T. L., Rensma, S. P., van der Heide, F. C. T., Henry, R. M. A., Kroon, A. A., Houben, A. J. H. M., Jansen, J. F. A., Backes, W. H., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Schouten, J. S. A. G., van Dongen, M. C. J. M., Eussen, S. J. P. M., Dagnelie, P. C., Webers, C. A. B., Schram, M. T., Schalkwijk, C. G., van Sloten, T. T., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2020). Blood pressure variability and microvascular dysfunction: the Maastricht Study. Journal of Hypertension, 38(8), 1541-1550. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000002444
    • Pappaccogli, M., Prejbisz, A., Ciurica, S., Bruno, R. M., Aniszczuk-Hybiak, A., Bracalente, I., De Backer, T., Debieve, F., Delmotte, P., Di Monaco, S., Jarraya, F., Gordin, D., Kosinski, P., Kroon, A. A., Maas, A. H. E. M., Marcon, D., Minuz, P., Montagud-Marrahi, E., Pasquet, A., ... Persu, A. (2020). Pregnancy-Related Complications in Patients With Fibromuscular Dysplasia: A Report From the European/International Fibromuscular Dysplasia Registry. Hypertension, 76(2), 545-553. https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.120.15349
    • De With, R. R., Erkuner, O., Rienstra, M., Nguyen, B.-O., Korver, F. W. J., Linz, D., Ten, H. C., Spronk, H., Kroon, A. A., Maass, A. H., Blaauw, Y., Tieleman, R. G., Hemels, M. E. W., de Groot, J. R., Elvan, A., de Melis, M., Scheerder, C. O. S., Al-Jazairi, M. I. H., Schotten, U., ... RACE V Investigators (2020). Temporal patterns and short-term progression of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation data from RACE V. EP Europace, 22(8), 1162-1172. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaa123
    • Li, W., Schram, M. T., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Webers, C. A. B., Kroon, A. A., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Henry, R. M. A., Schaper, N. C., Huang, F., Dashtbozorg, B., Tan, T., Zhang, J., Abbasi-Sureshjani, S., Ter Haar Romeny, B. M., Stehouwer, C. D. A., & Houben, A. J. H. M. (2020). Type 2 diabetes and HbA1c are independently associated with wider retinal arterioles: the Maastricht study. Diabetologia, 63(7), 1408-1417. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-020-05146-z
    • Linssen, P. B. C., Veugen, M. G. J., Henry, R. M. A., van Der Kallen, C. J. H., Kroon, A. A., Schram, M. T., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2020). Associations of (pre)diabetes with right ventricular and atrial structure and function: the Maastricht Study. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 19(1), Article 88. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-020-01055-y
    • Martens, R. J. H., Henry, R. M. A., Bekers, O., Dagnelie, P. C., van Dongen, M. C. J. M., Eussen, S. J. P. M., van Greevenbroek, M., Kroon, A. A., Stehouwer, C. D. A., Wesselius, A., Meex, S. J. R., & Kooman, J. P. (2020). Associations of 24-Hour Urinary Sodium and Potassium Excretion with Cardiac Biomarkers: The Maastricht Study. Journal of Nutrition, 150(6), 1413-1424. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa080
    • Rensma, S. P., Stehouwer, C. D. A., Van Boxtel, M. P. J., Houben, A. J. H. M., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Jansen, J. F. A., Schalkwijk, C. G., Verhey, F. R. J., Kroon, A. A., Henry, R. M. A., Backes, W. H., Dagnelie, P. C., van Dongen, M. C. J. M., Eussen, S. J. P. M., Bosma, H., Köhler, S., Reesink, K. D., Schram, M. T., & van Sloten, T. T. (2020). Associations of Arterial Stiffness With Cognitive Performance, and the Role of Microvascular Dysfunction: The Maastricht Study. Hypertension, 75(6), 1607-1614. https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.119.14307
    • Sorensen, B. M., van der Heide, F. C. T., Houben, A. J. H. M., Koster, A., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Schouten, J. S. A. G., Kroon, A. A., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Henry, R. M. A., van Dongen, M. C. J. M., Eussen, S. J. P. M., Savelberg, H. H. C. M., van der Berg, J. D., Schaper, N. C., Schram, M. T., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2020). Higher levels of daily physical activity are associated with better skin microvascular function in type 2 diabetes-The Maastricht Study. Microcirculation, 27(4), Article 12611. https://doi.org/10.1111/micc.12611
    • Rensma, S. P., van Sloten, T. T., Houben, A. J. H. M., Koehler, S., van Boxtel, M. P. J., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Jansen, J. F. A., Verhey, F. R. J., Kroon, A. A., Koster, A., Backes, W. H., Schaper, N., Dinant, G.-J., Schalkwijk, C. G., Henry, R. M. A., Wolfs, E. M. L., van Heumen, M. J. A., Schram, M. T., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2020). Microvascular Dysfunction Is Associated With Worse Cognitive Performance The Maastricht Study. Hypertension, 75(1), 237-245. https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.119.13023
    • Vossen, L. M., Kroon, A. A., Schurgers, L. J., & de Leeuw, P. W. (2020). Pharmacological and Nutritional Modulation of Vascular Calcification. Nutrients, 12(1), Article 100. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010100
  • 2019
    • Foreman, Y. D., Brouwers, M. C. G. J., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., van Dongen, M. C. J. M., Eussen, S. J. P. M., van Greevenbroek, M. M. J., Henry, R. M. A., Houben, A. J. H. M., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Kroon, A. A., Reesink, K. D., Schram, M. T., Schaper, N. C., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2019). The oral glucose tolerance test-derived incremental glucose peak is associated with greater arterial stiffness and maladaptive arterial remodeling: The Maastricht Study. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 18(1), Article 152. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-019-0950-x
    • Jaminon, A., Reesink, K., Kroon, A., & Schurgers, L. (2019). The Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Arterial Remodeling: Focus on Calcification-Related Processes. International journal of molecular sciences, 20(22), Article 5694. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20225694
    • de Ritter, R., Sep, S. J. S., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Schram, M. T., Koster, A., Kroon, A. A., van Greevenbroek, M. M. J., Eussen, S. J. P. M., Dagnelie, P. C., de Jong, M., Vos, R. C., Woodward, M., Bots, M. L., Peters, S. A. E., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2019). Adverse differences in cardiometabolic risk factor levels between individuals with pre-diabetes and normal glucose metabolism are more pronounced in women than in men: the Maastricht Study. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, 7(1), Article 000787. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjdrc-2019-000787
    • Hooijschuur, M. C. E., Ghossein-Doha, C., Kroon, A. A., De Leeuw, P. W., Zandbergen, A. A. M., Van Kuijk, S. M. J., & Spaanderman, M. E. A. (2019). Metabolic syndrome and pre-eclampsia. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 54(1), 64-71. https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.20126
    • Lay-Flurrie, S., Stevens, R., de Leeuw, P., Kroon, A., Greenfield, S., Mohammed, M., Gill, P., Verberk, W., & McManus, R. (2019). Using out-of-office blood pressure measurements in established cardiovascular risk scores: a secondary analysis of data from two blood pressure monitoring studies. British Journal of General Practice, 69(683), E381-E388. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp19X702737
    • Zhou, T. L., Kroon, A. A., Sloten, T. T. V., van Boxtel, M. P. J., Verhey, F. R. J., Schram, M. T., Köhler, S., Stehouwer, C. D. A., & Henry, R. M. A. (2019). Greater Blood Pressure Variability Is Associated With Lower Cognitive Performance: The Maastricht Study. Hypertension, 73(4), 803–811. https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.118.12305
    • van der Waaij, K. M., Heusinkveld, M. H. G., Delhaas, T., Kroon, A. A., & Reesink, K. D. (2019). Do treatment-induced changes in arterial stiffness affect left ventricular structure? A meta-analysis. Journal of Hypertension, 37(2), 253-263. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001918
    • Driessen, J. H. M., de Vries, F., van Onzenoort, H. A. W., Schram, M. T., van der Kallen, C., Reesink, K. D., Sep, S., Stehouwer, C. D. A., Schaper, N., Kroon, A. A., Schalkwijk, C., van den Bergh, J. P. W., & Henry, R. M. A. (2019). Metformin use in type 2 diabetic patients is not associated with lower arterial stiffness: the Maastricht Study. Journal of Hypertension, 37(2), 365-371. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001892
    • van Twist, D. J. L., de Leeuw, P. W., Spiering, W., Rossi, G. P., Dominiczak, A. F., Jennings, G. L. R., Barigou, M., Persu, A., & Kroon, A. A. (2019). Unifocal and Multifocal Fibromuscular Dysplasia: Two Different Disease Entities in a Single Patient?Hypertension, 73(1), 7-12. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.118.12004
    • Tsioufis, C., de Leeuw, P., Dimitriadis, K., Kasiakogias, A., Kroon, A., Lombardi, C., & Parati, G. (2019). European Society of Hypertension Scientific Newsletter: Update on Hypertension Management 2017; 18: Nr. 65 Update on Device Therapies for resistant hypertension Device-Therapie bei therapieresistenter Hypertonie - Update. Journal fur Hypertonie, 23(2), 49-52. https://www.kup.at/kup/pdf/14515.pdf
    • Rensma, S., van Sloten, T. T., Houben, A. J. H. M., van Boxtel, M. P. J., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Jansen, J. F. A., Kroon, A. A., Koster, A., Backes, W. H., Schaper, N., Dinant, G. J., Schalkwijk, C. G., Henry, R. M. A., Wolfs, E. M. L., van Heumen, M. J. A., Schram, M. T., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2019). Microvascular Dysfunction Is Associated with Worse Cognitive Performance: The Maastricht Study. Journal of Vascular Research, 56(S1), 94-94.
  • 2018
    • van Agtmaal, M. J. M., Houben, A. J. H. M., de Wit, V., Henry, R. M. A., Schaper, N. C., Dagnelie, P. C., van der Kallen, C. J., Koster, A., Sep, S. J., Kroon, A. A., Jansen, J. F. A., Hofman, P. A., Backes, W. H., Schram, M. T., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2018). Prediabetes Is Associated With Structural Brain Abnormalities: The Maastricht Study. Diabetes Care, 41(12), 2535-2543. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc18-1132
    • de Leeuw, P. W., & Kroon, A. A. (2018). A sluice to normotension?Journal of Hypertension, 36(12), 2314-2315. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001926
    • van Twist, D. J. L., Dinh, T., Bouwmans, E. M. E., & Kroon, A. A. (2018). Initial orthostatic hypotension among patients with unexplained syncope: An overlooked diagnosis?International Journal of Cardiology, 271, 269-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.05.043
    • Tully, P. J., Turnbull, D. A., Anstey, K. J., Beckett, N., Beiser, A. S., Birns, J., Brickman, A. M., Burns, N. R., Cosh, S., de Leeuw, P. W., Dorstyn, D., Elias, M. F., Jukema, J. W., Kario, K., Kikuya, M., Kroon, A. A., Launer, L. J., Mahajan, R., McGrath, E. R., ... VARIABLE BRAIN Consortium (2018). The association between blood pressure variability (BPV) with dementia and cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Systematic Reviews, 7(1), Article 163. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-018-0811-9
    • Zhou, T. L., Henry, R. M. A., Stehouwer, C. D. A., van Sloten, T. T., Reesink, K. D., & Kroon, A. A. (2018). Blood Pressure Variability, Arterial Stiffness, and Arterial Remodeling: The Maastricht Study. Hypertension, 72(4), 1002-1010. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.118.11325
    • Schmieder, R. E., Mahfoud, F., Azizi, M., Pathak, A., Dimitriadis, K., Kroon, A. A., Ott, C., Scalise, F., Mancia, G., Tsioufis, C., & ESH Working Group on Interventional Treatment of Hypertension (2018). European Society of Hypertension position paper on renal denervation 2018. Journal of Hypertension, 36(10), 2042-2048. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001858
    • Uiterwijk, R., Staals, J., Huijts, M., van Kuijk, S. M. J., de Leeuw, P. W., Kroon, A. A., & van Oostenbrugge, R. J. (2018). Hypertensive organ damage predicts future cognitive performance: A 9-year follow-up study in patients with hypertension. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 20(10), 1458-1463. https://doi.org/10.1111/jch.13372
    • van Twist, D. J. L., de Leeuw, P. W., & Kroon, A. A. (2018). Renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia and its effect on the kidney. Hypertension Research, 41(9), 639-648. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-018-0063-z
    • van Twist, D. J. L., de Heer, P. W. M., Houben, A. J. H. M., de Haan, M. W., de Leeuw, P. W., & Kroon, A. A. (2018). Differences in renal hemodynamics and renin secretion between patients with unifocal and multifocal fibromuscular dysplasia. Journal of Hypertension, 36(8), 1729-1735. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001755
    • Veugen, M. G. J., Henry, R. M. A., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Dagnelie, P. C., Schram, M. T., van Agtmaal, M. J. M., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Sep, S. J. S., van Boxtel, M. P. J., Bekers, O., Meex, S. J. R., Jansen, J. F. A., Kroon, A. A., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2018). Cross-sectional associations between cardiac biomarkers, cognitive performance, and structural brain changes are modified by age: The Maastricht Study. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 38(8), 1948-1958. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.118.311082
    • Martens, R. J. H., Houben, A. J. H. M., Kooman, J. P., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Dagnelie, P. C., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Kroon, A. A., Leunissen, K. M. L., van der Sande, F. M., Schaper, N. C., Schouten, J. S. A. G., Schram, M. T., Sep, S. J. S., Sörensen, B. M., Henry, R. M. A., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2018). Microvascular endothelial dysfunction is associated with albuminuria: the Maastricht Study. Journal of Hypertension, 36(5), 1178-1187. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001674
    • Martens, R. J. H., van der Berg, J. D., Stehouwer, C. D. A., Henry, R. M. A., Bosma, H., Dagnelie, P. C., van Dongen, M. C. J. M., Eussen, S. J. P. M., Schram, M. T., Sep, S. J. S., van der Kellen, C. J. H., Schaper, N. C., Savelberg, H. H. C. M., van der Sande, F. M., Kroon, A. A., Kooman, J. P., & Koster, A. (2018). Amount and pattern of physical activity and sedentary behavior are associated with kidney function and kidney damage: The Maastricht Study. PLOS ONE, 13(4), Article 0195306. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195306
    • de Leeuw, P. W., Postma, C. T., Spiering, W., & Kroon, A. A. (2018). Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis: Should we Intervene Earlier?Current Hypertension Reports, 20(4), Article 35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-018-0829-3
    • De Clerck, E. E. B., Schouten, J. S. A. G., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Goezinne, F., Liesenborghs, I., Dagnelie, P. C., Schaper, N. C., Kroon, A. A., Henry, R. M. A., Reesink, K. D., Schram, M. T., Stehouwer, C. D. A., & Webers, C. A. B. (2018). Vascular risk factors for optical coherence tomography-detected cystoid macular edema: the Maastricht study. Acta Ophthalmologica, 96, 25-25.
    • Uiterwijk, R., Staals, J., Huijts, M., de Leeuw, P. W., Kroon, A. A., & van Oostenbrugge, R. J. (2018). Framingham Stroke Risk Profile is related to cerebral small vessel disease progression and lower cognitive performance in patients with hypertension. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 20(2), 240-245. https://doi.org/10.1111/jch.13175
    • Martens, R. J. H., Kooman, J. P., Stehouwer, C. D. A., Dagnelie, P. C., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Kroon, A. A., Leunissen, K. M. L., van der Sande, F. M., Schaper, N. C., Sep, S. J. S., Kohler, S., Schram, M. T., & Henry, R. M. A. (2018). Albuminuria is associated with a higher prevalence of depression in a population-based cohort study: the Maastricht Study. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 33(1), 128-138. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfw377
  • 2017
    • Spiering, W., Williams, B., Van der Heyden, J., van Kleef, M., Lo, R., Versmissen, J., Moelker, A., Kroon, A., Reuter, H., Ansel, G., Stone, G. W., Bates, M., & CALM-FIM EUR Investigators (2017). Endovascular baroreflex amplification for resistant hypertension: a safety and proof-of-principle clinical study. Lancet, 390(10113), 2655-2661. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32337-1
    • Geijselaers, S. L. C., Sep, S. J. S., Claessens, D., Schram, M. T., van Boxtel, M. P. J., Henry, R. M. A., Verhey, F. R. J., Kroon, A. A., Dagnelie, P. C., Schalkwijk, C. G., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Biessels, G. J., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2017). The role of hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and blood pressure in diabetes: Associated differences in cognitive performance-The Maastricht Study. Diabetes Care, 40(11), 1537-1547. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc17-0330
    • Sörensen, B. M., Houben, A. J. H. M., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Schouten, J. S. A. G., Kroon, A. A., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Henry, R. M. A., Koster, A., Dagnelie, P. C., Schaper, N. C., Schram, M. T., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2017). Cardiovascular risk factors as determinants of retinal and skin microvascular function: The Maastricht Study. PLOS ONE, 12(10), Article e0187324. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0187324
    • Scheepers, L. E. J. M., Boonen, A., Dagnelie, P. C., Schram, M. T., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Henry, R. M. A., Kroon, A. A., Stehouwer, C. D. A., & Arts, I. C. W. (2017). Uric acid and blood pressure: exploring the role of uric acid production in The Maastricht Study. Journal of Hypertension, 35(10), 1968-1975. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001417
    • van Twist, D. J. L., de Leeuw, P. W., & Kroon, A. A. (2017). Coronary Tortuosity: A Clue to the Diagnosis of Fibromuscular Dysplasia?American Journal of Hypertension, 30(8), 776-780. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpx069
    • Sörensen, B. M., Houben, A. J. H. M., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Schouten, J. S. A. G., Kroon, A. A., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Henry, R. M. A., Koster, A., Reesink, K. D., Dagnelie, P. C., Schaper, N. C., Schalkwijk, C. G., Schram, M. T., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2017). Hyperglycemia Is the Main Mediator of Prediabetes- and Type 2 Diabetes-Associated Impairment of Microvascular Function: The Maastricht Study. Diabetes Care, 40(8), e103-e105. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc17-0574
    • van Twist, D. J. L., Houben, A. J. H. M., de Leeuw, P. W., & Kroon, A. A. (2017). Lateralization of renal blood flow and renin secretion in fibromuscular dysplasia Reply. Journal of Hypertension, 35(8), 1721-1722. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001387
    • Kimenai, D. M., Martens, R. J. H., Kooman, J. P., Stehouwer, C. D. A., Tan, F. E. S., Schaper, N. C., Dagnelie, P. C., Schram, M. T., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Sep, S. J. S., van Suijlen, J. D. E., Kroon, A. A., Bekers, O., van Dieijen-Visser, M. P., Henry, R. M. A., & Meex, S. J. R. (2017). Troponin I and T in relation to cardiac injury detected with electrocardiography in a population-based cohort - The Maastricht Study. Scientific Reports, 7(1), Article 6610. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06978-3