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Circulating Osteocalcin Fractions are Associated with Vascular Calcification and Mortality in Chronic Hemodialysis

Ruei-An Lin1,2, Jyh-Tong Hsieh3,4, Chin-Chou Huang1,5

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Calcified Tissue International
|September 4, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The percentage of carboxylated osteocalcin (%cOC) in plasma is linked to vascular calcification and predicts mortality in hemodialysis patients. Higher %cOC levels indicate increased risk, suggesting its use as a biomarker for chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

  • Vascular calcification is common in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and linked to high mortality.
  • The role of total osteocalcin (OC) in vascular calcification and mortality is unclear.
  • Investigating specific OC fractions as biomarkers in ESKD is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if plasma osteocalcin fractions can predict vascular calcification and mortality in hemodialysis patients.
  • To explore the association between plasma %cOC, vascular calcification, and parathyroid hormone (PTH).

Main Methods:

  • Observational cohort study of 184 maintenance hemodialysis patients.
  • Measurement of plasma carboxylated OC (cOC), uncarboxylated OC (ucOC), and intact PTH.
  • Assessment of aortic calcification severity and three-year mortality follow-up.

Main Results:

  • Plasma %cOC, not cOC or ucOC, was independently associated with vascular calcification severity.
  • A U-shaped correlation was observed between plasma %cOC and PTH levels.
  • Higher plasma %cOC levels were associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma %cOC is positively correlated with vascular calcification and exhibits a U-shaped correlation with PTH in hemodialysis patients.
  • Elevated plasma %cOC levels predict increased mortality in this population.
  • Plasma %cOC may serve as a valuable biomarker for CKD-mineral and bone disorder and a predictor of clinical outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Carboxylated percentageOsteocalcinSecondary hyperparathyroidismUremiaVascular calcification

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