title: Circulating Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin is not associated with cardiovascular calcification or stiffness: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
abstract: Vitamin K-dependent protein (VKDP) activity may have a role in preventing cardiovascular calcification, but has not previously been studied in large, generally healthy populations.
  
  
  
  Using an elevated ankle-brachial index (ABI) as a measure of medial vascular calcification, we performed a case-cohort analysis within the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, measuring Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) to estimate VKDP activity. In secondary analyses of the weighted subcohort, we examined the cross-sectional associations between DCP and prevalent vascular calcification of the coronary vessels, aortic and mitral valves, and aortic wall, and with vascular stiffness.
  
  
  
  In adjusted analysis, cases (n = 104) had 0.21 ng/ml (-0.94-0.52) lower DCP concentrations than the subcohort (n = 613). Furthermore, amongst the 717 participants in the weighted cohort, VKDP activity was not associated with coronary artery, mitral valve, aortic valve or aortic wall calcification, nor was it associated with vascular stiffness.
  
  
  
  Our negative results do not support a role of circulating VKDP activity in cardiovascular calcification in community-dwelling adults.
authors: Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: jdanzige@bidmc.harvard.edu.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Danziger
authors: University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
authors: Rebekah L
authors: RL
authors: Young
authors: Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States.
authors: Kyla M
authors: KM
authors: Shea
authors: Division of Cardiology, University of Minnesota, United States.
authors: Daniel A
authors: DA
authors: Duprez
authors: School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota, United States.
authors: David R
authors: DR
authors: Jacobs
authors: College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States.
authors: Russell P
authors: RP
authors: Tracy
authors: Nephrology Section, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States.
authors: Joachim H
authors: JH
authors: Ix
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States.
authors: Nancy S
authors: NS
authors: Jenny
authors: Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
authors: Kenneth J
authors: KJ
authors: Mukamal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D011516:Prothrombin; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014812:Vitamin K; C008208:acarboxyprothrombin; D011516:Prothrombin
keywords: Matrix Gla protein; Medial calcification; Phylloquinone; Vascular calcification; Vascular stiffness; Vitamin K