title: Serum level of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atherosclerosis and its related complications are the leading causes of death in the hemodialysis (HD) population. Aortic calcification index (ACI), intima-media thickness (IMT) in common carotid arteries, and electrocardiogram (ECG) are atherosclerotic parameters that are available in usual clinical outpatient settings. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) play important roles in atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional study of 133 outpatients on maintenance HD in a single HD outpatient center. We measured serum levels of MCSF and MCP-1, determined the ACI using computed tomography scan and the IMT using high-sensitivity ultrasound B-mode imaging, and performed ECGs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stepwise multivariate regression analysis revealed that the MCSF level correlated with age-adjusted mean and maximum IMT (F = 10.811, p = 0.001, and F = 6.784, p = 0.010, respectively) as well as with the diastolic blood pressure. Age and MCSF level (F = 4.866, p = 0.029) were independently related to an increased ACI. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was not related to IMT and ACI. The hsCRP level (chi2 = 5.002, p = 0.025) correlated with ECG changes followed by MCSF (chi2 = 3.940, p = 0.047). MCP-1 was not related to the above atherosclerotic parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A head-to-head comparison between MCSF and hsCRP revealed that MCSF was more closely associated with IMT and ACI in HD patients.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, Japan. kazutaka@swallow.res.yamanashi-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haraguchi
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Furuya
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Mitsuhiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimura
authors.forename: Kiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tago
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D016015:Logistic Models; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein