title: Sclerostin as a new key factor in vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease stages 3 and 4.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sclerostin is an osteocyte-derived inhibitor of the Wnt pathway and has been shown to play a key role in chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). The present study aimed to validate its potential as a predictor of vascular calcification in patients with CKD stages 3-4.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 97 patients with CKD stages 3-4 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Routine clinical biochemistry tests and assays for sclerostin and mineral metabolism markers were performed. Additionally, vascular calcification was assessed by multislice spiral computed tomography. Logistic regression analyses were used to study the relationships between sclerostin and vascular calcification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum sclerostin levels (30.8 ± 6.4 vs. 41.7 ± 12.6 pmol/L, P < 0.05) were significantly elevated in patients with CKD stage 3a compared to in controls and increased with the decline in glomerular filtration rates. Furthermore, patients with vascular calcification had higher serum sclerostin levels. Patients with sclerostin levels above the median value had increased the prevalence of vascular calcification. Multivariate analysis revealed that sclerostin levels were positively associated with vascular calcification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that sclerostin levels are elevated in patients with CKD and are associated with vascular calcification. Therefore, sclerostin may be used as a predictor of vascular calcification in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Neurological Intensive Care Unit, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, Shandong, China. cnwdoc@126.com.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Shengqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Medical Imaging Center, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Bofeng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Yongqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D012080:Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062072:Patient Acuity; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; C422903:SOST protein, human
keywords: Chronic kidney disease; Sclerostin; Vascular calcification