title: Serum osteoprotegerin is associated with pulse pressure in kidney transplant recipients.
abstract: Pulse pressure (PP) reflects increased large artery stiffness, which is caused, in part, by arterial calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease. PP has been shown to predict both cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in various patient populations, including kidney transplant (KTX) recipients. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a marker and regulator of arterial calcification, and it is related to cardiovascular survival in hemodialysis patients. Here we tested the hypothesis that OPG is associated with increased pulse pressure. We cross-sectionally analyzed the association between serum OPG and PP in a prevalent cohort of 969 KTX patients (mean age: 51 +/- --13 years, 57% male, 21% diabetics, mean eGFR 51 +/- 20 ml/min/1.73 m2). Independent associations were tested in a linear regression model adjusted for multiple covariables. PP was positively correlated with serum OPG (rho = 0.284, p < 0.001). Additionally, a positive correlation was seen between PP versus age (r = 0.358, p < 0.001), the Charlson Comorbidity Index (r = 0.232, p < 0.001), serum glucose (r = 0.172, p < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.133, p = 0.001) and serum cholesterol (r = 0.094, p = 0.003). PP was negatively correlated with serum Ca, albumin and eGFR. The association between PP and OPG remained significant after adjusting for multiple potentially relevant covariables (beta = 0.143, p < 0.001). We conclude that serum OPG is independently associated with pulse pressure in kidney transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Dept. of Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Uzsoki Hospital, Uzsoki u. 29-41, H-1145 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsofia K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Nemeth
authors.affiliation: Dialysis and Transplantation Centre, "Dr. C.I. Parhon" University Hospital, 50 Carol 1st Blvd, Iasi 6600, Romania.
authors.forename: Nicoleta G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Mardare
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Gebaude D3, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Czira
authors.affiliation: 3rd Dept. of Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Uzsoki Hospital, Uzsoki u. 29-41, H-1145 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gyorgy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deak
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Nephrology-Hypertension, Szent Imre Teaching Hospital, Tétényi út 12-16, H-1115 Budapest, Hungary.|Division of Geriatrics, Semmelweis University Budapest, Hungary.|1st Dialysis Centre, B.Braun Avitum Hungary Dialysis Network, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University, Baross u. 23-26, H-1082 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mathe
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University, Baross u. 23-26, H-1082 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Remport
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathophysiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4., H-1089 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Akos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ujszaszi
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr. T. Popa", 50 Carol 1st Blvd, Iasi 6600, Romania.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covic
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 956 Court Ave, Suite B216B, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
authors.forename: Miklos Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 585 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2N2, Canada.
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mucsi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D066027:Transplant Recipients
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053244:Osteoprotegerin