Background: Autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is regarded as the first and perhaps the best choice of vascular access in hemodialysis patients. Vascular  access procedures  and their subsequent complications represent major causes of morbidity, hospitalization, and cost for chronic hemodialysis patients.
Aim of the study: The main objective of this study is to identify  risk factors for failure of
autogenous arteriovenous  fzstulae which had successfully  matured and were used for dialysis in hemodialysis patients.
Patients and methods: Sixty selected cases of chronic renal failure patients who were referred for AVF during March 2006 to April 2008 were operated on to create AVF and followed up for two years.
Results: There were a total of76 autogenous  AVF performed for 60 patients. 32  (53.3%) of the procedures were distal fistulae, followed by 25 (41.7%)  cubital fossa fistulae (proximal fistulae) and other sites fistulae were only 3 (5%). Hypertension was present in 24 (40%) of the patients, and diabetes was present in 11 (18.3%). 12 (20%) of the studied cases were overweight. HCV was found in 28 (46.7%)  of the patients. 21 (35%) of patients had past history of fistula failure during their course of renal dialysis. Patients who developed AVF failure had significantly lower hemoglobin levels  and   were more likely  to  have previous fistula failure.
Conclusion: Predictors of AV-fistula malfunction in our dialysis  population were lower hemoglobin levels and previous fistula failure.