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Elevated serum bone morphogenetic protein 4 in patients with chronic kidney disease and coronary artery disease

Paul F Stahls1, Daniel J Lightell, Stephanie C Moss

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA.

Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research
|December 5, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Elevated levels of serum bone morphogenetic protein-4 (sBMP-4) are linked to both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Higher sBMP-4 also correlates with coronary artery calcification in these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) significantly increases the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary artery calcification.
  • The underlying mechanisms linking CKD and CAD remain incompletely understood.
  • Osteogenic factors are implicated in vascular calcification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum bone morphogenetic protein-4 (sBMP-4) and the co-occurrence of CKD and CAD.
  • To determine if sBMP-4 levels correlate with the extent of coronary artery calcification (CAC).

Main Methods:

  • Serum samples were collected from 79 patients undergoing diagnostic angiography.
  • Patients were stratified based on the presence or absence of CKD and CAD.
  • Serum sBMP-4 levels were measured and correlated with disease status and CAC scores in a subset of 22 patients.

Main Results:

  • Subjects with both CKD and CAD exhibited significantly higher sBMP-4 levels compared to those with only one condition or neither.
  • sBMP-4 remained associated with the presence of both CKD and CAD after adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors.
  • A positive correlation was observed between sBMP-4 levels and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores.

Conclusions:

  • Serum sBMP-4 is elevated in patients with comorbid CKD and CAD.
  • sBMP-4 levels positively correlate with the burden of coronary artery calcification.
  • These findings suggest a potential role for sBMP-4 in the heightened cardiovascular risk associated with CKD.

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