title: Role of osteoprotegerin in vascular disorders of the end-stage renal disease patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the osteoprotegerin (OPG) relationship with cardiovascular complications in hemodialysis (HD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 87 HD patients. Clinical characteristics, ankle-arm index (AAI), OPG and mineral markers levels were recorded. Arterial intimal calcification (AIC) and arterial medial calcification (AMC) were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OPG levels were increased in HD patients. Patients with AIC (p = 0.006)/ AMC (p = 0.01) had higher OPG levels. OPG did not have any relation with cardiovascular diseases. OPG correlated positively with age, increased HD vintage and inversely with albumin and AAI. OPG has not been a risk factor for VC or cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OPG rising could be a reaction in defense to vascular aggression, because OPG was associated with VC, but not with vascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moldovan
authors.forename: Ina Maria
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Kacso
authors.forename: Crina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rusu
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Potra
authors.forename: Cosmina Ioana
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Bondor
authors.forename: Ioan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moldovan
authors.forename: Ioan Mihai
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Patiu
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vladutiu
authors.forename: Mirela Gherman
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Caprioara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053244:Osteoprotegerin
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; immunotoxicity; renal disease