title: Correlations of sialic acid with markers of inflammation, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum total sialic acid (S-TSA) is associated with atherosclerotic process in general population. The aim of our study was to evaluate possible correlations of S-TSA with markers of inflammation and atherosclerosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We involved 53 asymptomatic, nondiabetic HD patients and 28 healthy controls. Atherosclerosis was evaluated by carotid ultrasonography, estimating intima media wall thickness and wall to lumen ratio bilaterally. To confirm our findings, we performed a 32-month cohort study, during which cardiovascular (CV) events were analyzed in relation to S-TSA concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HD patients had higher S-TSA compared to controls (adjusted OR: 1.04, p = 0.026). In HD patients, S-TSA independently correlated with hs-CRP (p < 0.0001), lipoprotein(a) (p = 0.02), intima media wall thickness (p = 0.023) and wall to lumen ratio (p = 0.028). Increased S-TSA concentration was associated with more CV events (p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum TSA seems to correlate with inflammation, accelerated atherosclerosis and CV events in nondiabetic HD patients, but more studies need to confirm our findings.
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, General Hospital Alexandra, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. tsekedaki@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tseke
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grapsa
authors.forename: Kimon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stamatelopoulos
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samouilidou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rammos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papamichael
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zakopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid