Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2025
A Semi-Automated and Reproducible Biological-Based Method to Quantify Calcium Deposition In Vitro
Published on: June 2, 2022
Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor is associated with cardiovascular calcification in peritoneal
Jichao Guan1, Shuwen Gong1, Qiuli He1
1Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China.
Insights
High levels of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) are linked to cardiovascular calcification in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. This finding is particularly significant in elderly PD patients, highlighting suPAR as a potential biomarker for CVD risk.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.
- Cardiovascular calcification (CVC) is common in PD patients and predicts mortality.
- The role of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in PD-related CVC is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum suPAR levels and CVC in PD patients.
- To determine if suPAR can predict the presence and extent of CVC.
Main Methods:
- Assessed abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), coronary artery calcification (CAC), and cardiac valvular calcification (ValvC) using radiography, CT, and echocardiography.
- Compared demographic, clinical, and biochemical variables between patients with and without CVC.
- Used logistic regression and ROC curve analysis to evaluate the association and predictive value of suPAR for CVC.
Main Results:
- Nearly half of PD patients had AAC (49.1%), and a majority had CAC (68.6%).
- Elevated serum suPAR levels were significantly associated with the presence and severity of CVC, particularly in elderly patients.
- suPAR demonstrated predictive value for CVC (AUC=0.651) and notably for ValvC (AUC=0.828).
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular calcification is highly prevalent in the PD population.
- Serum suPAR is a significant predictor of CVC in PD patients, especially in the elderly.
- suPAR may serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing cardiovascular risk in PD patients.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Cardiovascular calcification (CVC) is highly prevalent in PD patients and could predict their cardiovascular mortality. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is closely associated with coronary artery calcification in hemodialysis patients and is an important predictor of CVD. However, the role of suPAR in PD patients is poorly understood. We investigated the relationship between serum suPAR and CVC in PD patients.
Methods:
Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) was assessed by lateral lumbar radiography, coronary artery calcification (CAC) by multi-slice computed tomography, and cardiac valvular calcification (ValvC) by echocardiography. CVC was defined as confirmed presence of calcification in one site (AAC, CAC, or ValvC). Patients were divided into CVC group and non-CVC group. Demographic characteristics, biochemical variables, comorbidities, PD regimen, serum suPAR, and medication were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression was conducted to determine association between serum suPAR and presence of CVC. The receiver-operator curve (ROC) was plotted to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) for suPAR to identify CVC and ValvC.
Results:
Of 226 PD patients, 111 (49.1%) had AAC, 155 (68.6%) had CAC, and 26 (11.5%) had ValvC. There were significant differences in age, BMI, diabetes, white blood cell, phosphorus, hs-CRP, suPAR, time on dialysis, total volume of dialysate, ultrafiltration, volume of urine, and Kt/V between CVC and non-CVC group. Serum suPAR was associated with CVC by multivariate logistic regression analysis in PD patients, especially in elderly patients. The levels of serum suPAR were closely related to the degree of AAC, CAC, and ValvC in PD patients. The incidence of CVC was higher in patients with higher levels of suPAR. The ROC curve showed that serum suPAR had a predictive value for CVC (AUC = 0.651), especially for ValvC (AUC = 0.828).
Conclusion:
Cardiovascular calcification is prevalent in PD patients. High levels of serum suPAR are associated with cardiovascular calcification in PD patients, especially in elderly patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
01:30Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction
01:26Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
01:25Peritoneal Dialysis II: Peritoneal Dialysis Systems and Complications