title: The relationships between serum sTWEAK, FGF-23 levels, and carotid atherosclerosis in renal transplant patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality after renal transplantation. Soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) are two novel molecules that have been associated with atherosclerosis in different populations. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the associations between sTWEAK, FGF-23, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) in renal transplant patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 117 renal transplant patients were studied. CA-IMT was determined by B-mode Doppler ultrasonography. Serum sTWEAK and FGF-23 were measured by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 39.6 ± 9.6 years and 51% of the patients were male. Mean sTWEAK level was 595 ± 225 pg/mL (158-1140), FGF-23 level was 92 ± 123 RU/mL (9.6-1006), and CA-IMT level was 0.62 ± 0.11 mm (0.40-0.98). sTWEAK level was positively correlated with CA-IMT. There was no association between sTWEAK and FGF-23 levels. FGF-23 was also associated with CA-IMT. In adjusted models using linear regression analysis, only age and serum TWEAK levels were predictors for CA-IMT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a positive correlation between CA-IMT and sTWEAK, but not with FGF-23 levels in renal transplant patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. ozkangungor@yahoo.com.tr
authors.forename: Ozkan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gungor
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kismali
authors.forename: Ali Riza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sisman
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kircelli
authors.forename: Juan Jesus
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Carrero
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tatar
authors.forename: Gulay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asci
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D000089703:Fibroblast Growth Factor-23; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; C000717427:FGF23 protein, human; D008024:Ligands; C109743:TNFSF12 protein, human; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D000089703:Fibroblast Growth Factor-23