Circulating fetuin-A predicts early mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess whether low serum levels of fetuin-A are potential biochemical predictor of early and/or late survival in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients.


METHODS
We measured serum levels of fetuin-A in 67 patients on chronic HD, and correlated it to 3, 12, and 24 months mortality.


RESULTS
Cumulative death rate was 7%, 19%, and 37% deaths at 3, 12, and 24 months. Serum fetuin-A was significantly lower in 3 months and 12 months non-survivals (p<0.001), but not in 24 months non-survivals. Kaplan-Meier analyses based on fetuin-A tertiles showed statistically significantly increased probability of death up to 12 months of follow-up for decreasing fetuin-A concentrations (p<0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Fetuin-A as a circulating inhibitor of vascular calcification was significant predictor of early mortality in chronic HD patients but did not appear as a fair marker for later survival.
Bláha
Vladimír
V
Department Metabolism and Gerontology, University Hospital and Medical Faculty, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. blaha@lfhk.cuni.cz
Mistrík
Erik
E
Dusilová-Sulková
Sylvie
S
Kalousová
Marta
M
Andrýs
Ctirad
C
Bláha
Milan
M
Sobotka
Lubos
L