The progress of aortic calcification is associated with the incidence of cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases in hemodialysis patients. The present study was designed to determine whether etidronate can affect the development of aortic calcification in hemodialysis patients. Etidronate was given orally just before sleep on the day of dialysis, which was performed 2 or 3 sessions per week. Aortic calcification area (ACA), bone mineral density (BMD), and biochemical parameters were measured 6 months after the start of etidronate treatment to them compare with control. ACA in the control group showed a statistically significant increase after 6 months. However, the patients who received etidronate had no significant changes in ACA. Clinical and biochemical parameters and BMD were not influenced by etidronate treatment except serum alkaline phosphatase. These results suggest that etidronate has a potential ability to inhibit the progression of vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients, and that this beneficial effect of etidronate may prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases that are major causes of death in hemodialysis patients.