title: The relationships between serum sclerostin, bone mineral density, and vascular calcification in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent data indicate that the secreted glycoprotein sclerostin may be involved in vascular calcification (VC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to establish whether serum sclerostin levels are associated with VC in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted with ambulatory care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared 75 RA patients with 75 age- and gender-matched control participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Coronary artery calcification (CAC) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) scores were evaluated by computed tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum sclerostin levels (determined with an ELISA) were assessed. A statistical analysis was performed to identify the determinants of serum sclerostin and VC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AAC and CAC were more prevalent and more severe in patients with RA than in controls. Higher levels of AAC (P = .02) and a higher lumbar bone mineral density (BMD; P = .03) were identified as independent determinants of higher serum sclerostin levels in RA patients, whereas male gender (P = .03), higher lumbar BMD (P < .0001), and low estimated glomerular rate (P < .001) were identified as determinants in controls. In RA patients, a multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that older age [P < .01, with an odds ratio (OR) per year 1.10] and male gender (P = .02, OR 6.79) were independent determinants of CAC and that older age (P < .001, OR 1.16) were independent determinants of AAC. In controls, the independent determinants were older age (P < .01, OR 1.19), hypertension (P < .01, OR 7.31), and lumbar BMD (P = .03, OR per 30 mg/cm(2) increment of 1.14) for CAC and older age (P = .01, OR 1.11) for AAC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum sclerostin levels were significantly and independently associated with AAC in RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology (J.P., P.F.), INSERM Unité 1088 (J.P., R.M., C.R., S.L., P.F., Z.A.M., M.B., S.K.), "Pathophysiological mechanisms and consequences of cardiovascular calcification: role of cardiovascular and bone remodelling," Department of Endocrine and Bone Biology (R.M., M.B., S.K.), and Clinical Research Center (S.L.), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Amiens University Medical Center, F-80054 Amiens, France; and Department of Nephrology (Z.A.M.), and Amboise Paré University Medical Center, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, F-92100 Boulogne Billancourt, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paccou
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mentaverri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Renard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liabeuf
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fardellone
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Massy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brazier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamel
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D015519:Bone Density; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; C422903:SOST protein, human