Background: Cardiovascular calcification, including arterial intimal and medial calcification (AIC and AMC) and valvular calcification (VC) are important predictors of outcome in chronic dialysis patients. We aimed to compare their prevalence and analyze respective risk factors in hemodialysis (HD) patients.Methods: A total of 81 HD patients were enrolled. Vascular calcification was assessed by plain film radiography of the pelvis and VC was diagnosed by echocardiography. Demographic data was reviewed and serum levels of calcification-relevant biomarkers were determined. Patients with and without calcification were then compared.Results: The prevalence study indicated that 36 patients had AIC (44.4%), 17 had AMC (21%) and 60 (74.1%) had VC. Patients with vascular calcification were older, and had a higher prevalence of diabetes. Their IL-6, osteoprotegerin, and uric acid levels were higher. Serum fetuin-A was lower in patients with VC. Logistic regression analysis revealed age, uric acid and diabetes to be independently associated with AIC; uric acid, diabetes and osteoprotegerin with AMC. Fetuin-A was the sole associate of VC.Conclusions: It is concluded that the prevalence of cardiovascular calcification in chronic HD patients was high with cardiac valve involvement more frequent. Factors associated with different type of calcification were not identical. Changes in biomarkers may represent clinical clues for assessment of cardiovascular calcification in HD patients.

中文翻译：

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与慢性血液透析患者血管和瓣膜钙化相关的生物标志物。

背景：心血管钙化，包括动脉内膜和中膜钙化（AIC 和 AMC）和瓣膜钙化（VC）是慢性透析患者预后的重要预测因子。我们旨在比较其在血液透析（HD）患者中的患病率并分析各自的危险因素。方法：共纳入81例HD患者。血管钙化通过骨盆平片 X 线片评估，VC 通过超声心动图诊断。审查人口统计学数据并确定钙化相关生物标志物的血清水平。然后比较有钙化和无钙化的患者。结果：患病率研究表明，AIC 36 例（44.4%），AMC 17 例（21%），VC 60 例（74.1%）。血管钙化患者年龄较大，糖尿病患病率较高。他们的 IL-6，骨保护素和尿酸水平较高。VC 患者的血清胎球蛋白 A 较低。Logistic 回归分析显示年龄、尿酸和糖尿病与 AIC 独立相关；尿酸、糖尿病和骨保护素与 AMC。Fetuin-A 是 VC 的唯一关联。结论：结论是慢性 HD 患者心血管钙化的患病率高，心脏瓣膜受累更频繁。与不同类型钙化相关的因素并不相同。生物标志物的变化可能代表评估 HD 患者心血管钙化的临床线索。糖尿病和骨保护素与 AMC。Fetuin-A 是 VC 的唯一关联。结论：结论是慢性 HD 患者心血管钙化的患病率高，心脏瓣膜受累更频繁。与不同类型钙化相关的因素并不相同。生物标志物的变化可能代表评估 HD 患者心血管钙化的临床线索。糖尿病和骨保护素与 AMC。Fetuin-A 是 VC 的唯一关联者。结论：结论：慢性 HD 患者心血管钙化的患病率高，心脏瓣膜受累更频繁。与不同类型钙化相关的因素并不相同。生物标志物的变化可能代表评估 HD 患者心血管钙化的临床线索。