Serum fetuin-A levels in patients with cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Fetuin-A (FA) suppresses arterial calcification, promotes insulin resistance, and appears to be elevated in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the data is still inconsistent. To clarify the correlation between serum FA levels and the presence and severity of CVDs, we performed this meta-analysis.


METHODS
Potential relevant studies were identified covering the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CISCOM, CINAHL, Google Scholar, China BioMedicine (CBM), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. Data from eligible studies were extracted and included in the meta-analysis using a random-effects model.


RESULTS
Ten case-control studies, including 1,281 patients with CVDs and 2,663 healthy controls, were included. The results showed significant differences in serum levels of FA between the CVDs patients and the healthy controls (SMD=1.36, 95%CI: 0.37-2.36, P=0.007). Ethnicity-subgroup analysis implied that low serum FA levels are related to CVDs in Caucasians (SMD=1.73, 95%CI: 0.20-3.26, P=0.026), but not in Asians (SMD=1.04, 95%CI: -0.33-2.40, P=0.138).


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicated that decreased serum FA level is correlated with the development of CVDs. FA might be clinically valuable for reflecting the progression of CVDs.
Department of Cardiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87 Xiangya Road, Kaifu District, Changsha 410008, China.
Ze-Lin
ZL
Sun
Department of Cardiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87 Xiangya Road, Kaifu District, Changsha 410008, China.
Qi-Ying
QY
Xie
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin 132000, China.
Gong-Liang
GL
Guo
Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin 132000, China.
Ke
K
Ma
Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin 132000, China.
Yuan-Yuan
YY
Huang
D044466:Asian People; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D044465:White People; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000378:metabolism*
C556354:AHSG protein, human; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein