Serum Osteoprotegerin level and the extent of cardiovascular calcification in haemodialysis patients

BackgroundCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis population. The mechanisms of vascular damage in this population are not fully explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factor. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) has been shown as an independent predictor of mortality in CKD patients and proposed as a potential biomarker for vascular calcification.MethodsA total of 80 subjects (60 hemodialysis patients and 20-age and sex matched healthy control) were studied. Vascular and valvular calcification was measured using plain X-ray and transthoracic echocardiography. Circulating OPG was measured in addition to standard clinical biochemical analysis.ResultsOsteoprotegerin level showed significant difference between hemodialysis (5.4±2.8pmol/l) and controls (0.96±0.41pmol/l) P<0.001. Vascular calcification detected by X-Ray and valvular calcification by echocardiography was statistically significant correlated with serum OPG level in hemodialysis patients with significant X-ray calcification score p=0.003 and overall valvular calcification with p value