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Gene polymorphisms and serum alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid levels in Italian haemodialysis patients

Mario Cozzolino1, Maria Luisa Biondi, Andrea Galassi

  • 1Renal Division, S. Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. mariocozzolino@hotmail.com

American Journal of Nephrology
|September 14, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Serum fetuin-A levels are reduced in Italian hemodialysis patients. However, this reduction is not linked to AHSG gene polymorphisms, suggesting other factors influence cardiovascular risk in these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Vascular calcification (VC) and atherosclerosis are leading causes of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients.
  • Fetuin-A (alpha(2)-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein, AHSG) is a protein that inhibits VC and has been linked to inflammation and CV mortality in HD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum fetuin-A levels and AHSG gene polymorphisms in an Italian HD population.
  • To explore the role of fetuin-A in cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing HD.

Main Methods:

  • Genotyping of the AHSG (T256S) common polymorphisms in 96 HD patients and 57 healthy controls.
  • Measurement of serum fetuin-A levels in both groups.

Main Results:

  • Serum fetuin-A levels were significantly lower in HD patients (0.35 +/- 0.11 g/l) compared to healthy controls (0.62 +/- 0.31 g/l).
  • No significant association was found between low serum fetuin-A levels and the Ser/Ser genotype of the AHSG gene in either HD patients or controls.
  • The distribution of AHSG gene polymorphisms was similar between HD patients and healthy controls.

Conclusions:

  • Italian HD patients exhibit reduced serum fetuin-A levels compared to healthy individuals.
  • The reduction in serum fetuin-A in this HD population is not associated with alterations in AHSG T256S polymorphism distribution.
  • CKD patients on HD may have similar AHSG gene polymorphism distribution to the general population.
Abstract

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