Is serum sclerostin a marker of atherosclerosis in patients with chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder?

• DOI: 10.1007/s11255-018-1935-5
• Publication Date: 2018-07-20T04:30:29Z
• Authors: Andreja Figurek; Goce Spasovski
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder; Genetic Markers; Glycated Hemoglobin; Male; Alkaline Phosphatase; Atherosclerosis; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; 3. Good health; Fibroblast Growth Factors; Fibroblast Growth Factor-23; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Creatinine; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; Humans; Calcium; Female; Biomarkers; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Aged; Glomerular Filtration Rate

The complexity of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) led to many preclinical and clinical trials. The role of sclerostin in renal pathophysiology remained unresolved, and question whether sclerostin is related to cardiovascular (CV) outcome in patients with CKD is still open. Our aim was to evaluate the possible association between serum sclerostin levels and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in CV pathophysiology through various CKD stages.Eighty-eight patients in various CKD stages were involved in this analysis. CKD-EPI (Chronic kidney disease Epidemiology Collaboration Equation) was used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). CKD-MBD parameters were determined in patients' serum after an overnight fasting. Early atherosclerosis was assessed by ultrasound measurement of CIMT. In order to assess the association between serum sclerostin with other CKD-MBD parameters and CIMT, correlation and regression analyses were performed.Mean age was 62.84 ± 11.37 years and 56% were female. Mean values of serum sclerostin were 1.67 ± 0.44 ng/ml. Negative correlation was noticed with serum calcium and phosphate product (CaxP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), serum creatinine, and HbA1c level. There was no association with FGF23, CIMT, and carotid atherosclerotic plaque occurence. Serum levels of sclerostin were significantly higher in female patients compared to males (p < 0.001).Advanced CKD showed a trend of declining sclerostin levels and significantly higher CIMT levels. Serum sclerostin was not associated with CIMT. More studies are needed in order to reveal the exact role of sclerostin in the complexity of CKD-MBD pathophysiological mechanism.