Serum Endocan Is a Risk Factor for Aortic Stiffness in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis

Background and Objectives: Endocan, secreted from the activated endothelium, is a key player in inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and angiogenesis. We aimed to investigate the link between endocan and aortic stiffness in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients. Materials and Methods: After recruiting HD patients from a medical center, their baseline characteristics, blood sample, and anthropometry were assessed and recorded. The serum endocan level was determined using an enzyme immunoassay kit, and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) measurement was used to evaluate aortic stiffness. Results: A total of 122 HD patients were enrolled. Aortic stiffness was diagnosed in 53 patients (43.4%), who were found to be older (p = 0.007) and have a higher prevalence of diabetes (p < 0.001) and hypertension (p = 0.030), higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.011), and higher endocan levels (p < 0.001), when compared with their counterparts. On the multivariate logistic regression model, the development of aortic stiffness in patients on chronic HD was found to be associated with endocan [odds ratio (OR): 1.566, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.224-2.002, p < 0.001], age (OR: 1.040, 95% CI: 1.001-1.080, p = 0.045), and diabetes (OR: 4.067, 95% CI: 1.532-10.798, p = 0.005), after proper adjustment for confounders (adopting diabetes, hypertension, age, systolic blood pressure, and endocan). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.713 (95% CI: 0.620-0.806, p < 0.001) for predicting aortic stiffness by the serum endocan level, at an optimal cutoff value of 2.68 ng/mL (64.15% sensitivity, 69.57% specificity). Upon multivariate linear regression analysis, logarithmically transformed endocan was proven as an independent predictor of cfPWV (β = 0.405, adjusted R² change = 0.152; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The serum endocan level positively correlated with cfPWV and was an independent predictor of aortic stiffness in chronic HD patients.