The relationship between calcification inhibitor levels in chronic kidney disease and the development of atherosclerosis

Aim We aimed to investigate the factors affecting the development of atherosclerosis and the role of calcification inhibitors fetuin-A, matrix-Gla protein (MGP), osteoprotegerin (OPG) in atherosclerosis progress. Material and methods The study was planned to investigate the relationship of serum OPG, MGP and fetuin-A levels with the development of atherosclerosis in the stage 2-3-4-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who did not require dialysis treatment. Results 32 (17 female, 15 male) healthy individuals and 92 (49 females, 43 males) CKD patients were included. The mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), C-reactive protein (CRP), fetuin-A, OPG and MGP of the two groups were compared statistically. In CKD patients, age, body mass index (BMI), CRP, triglyceride, urea, systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting blood sugar have a positive linear relationship, fetuin-A, OPG, GFR have a negative linear relationship with CIMT. The mean CIMT, right CIMT, left CIMT, blood urea, CRP, urinary albumin excretion creatinine and age show a negative linear relationship with fetuin-A. Conclusion Fetuin-A levels begin to decline from the early stages of CKD and are significantly lower in patients with atherosclerosis as expressed with CIMT. This suggests that fetuin-A may be used as an early marker in CKD for increased cardiovascular risk. Early recognition of these risk factors is important and large-scale studies on vascular calcification inhibitors are needed.