Positive Association of Serum Galectin-3 with the Development of Aortic Stiffness of Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis

A novel cardiovascular stress biomarker known as galectin-3 might be useful for anticipating adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The objective of the current investigation was to assess the association between serum galectin-3 levels and aortic stiffness (AS) in 196 patients on peritoneal dialysis. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent examination and a cuff-based volumetric displacement were employed to determine the levels of serum galectin-3 and the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), respectively. The AS group had 48 patients in total (24.5%) with cfPWV greater than 10 m/s. The AS group, when compared with the group without AS, had a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension in addition to greater fasting glucose levels, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and serum galectin-3 levels. Multivariate logistic and linear regression analysis demonstrated that serum glactin-3 levels, in addition to gender and age, were significantly and independently associated with cfPWV and AS. Serum galectin-3 levels were linked with AS, according to a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, with an area under the curve of 0.648 (95% confidence interval, 0.576-0.714; p = 0.0018). In summary, there was a significant correlation between serum galectin-3 levels and cfPWV in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis therapy for end-stage kidney disease.

The relation between serum phosphorus levels and long-term mortality in Chinese patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background

Elevated serum phosphorus levels may be associated with adverse outcomes in cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to investigate the relation between serum phosphorus levels and risk of all-cause mortality in Chinese patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who had preserved renal function at baseline.

Methods

We enrolled patients with STEMI who had preserved renal function at baseline in Xuanwu Hospital from January 2011 to December 2016. Those patients were divided into four groups based on serum phosphorus levels. All-cause mortality rates were compared between groups. Mean duration of follow up was 54.6 months. We used Cox proportional-hazards models to examine the relation between serum phosphorus levels and all-cause mortality after adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

1989 patients were involved and 211 patients (10.6%) died during follow-up. Based on serum phosphorus levels, patients were categorized into the following groups: < 2.50 mg/dL (n = 89), 2.51–3.50 mg/dL (n = 1066), 3.51–4.50 mg/dL (n = 672) and > 4.50 mg/dL (n = 162), respectively. The lowest mortality occurred in patients with serum phosphorus levels between 2.51–3.50 mg/dL, with a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio of 1.19 (95% CI: 0.64–1.54), 1.37 (95% CI: 1.22–1.74), and 1.46 (95% CI: 1.35–1.83) in patients with serum phosphorus levels of < 2.50 mg/dL, 3.51–4.50 mg/dL and > 4.50 mg/dL, respectively.

Conclusions

Elevated serum phosphorus levels were associated with all-cause mortality in Chinese patients with STEMI who had preserved renal function at baseline.

Effects of serum phosphorus on vascular calcification in a healthy, adult population: A systematic review

Cardiovascular disease has been associated with elevated serum phosphorus levels, which have been associated with cardiovascular mortality. This is commonly seen in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population where studies have shown that high phosphorus levels cause coronary artery calcification. Although studies have independently associated vascular stiffness and serum phosphorus in those with and without CKD, there are fewer data in individuals without CKD. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to analyze whether serum phosphorus levels are associated with cardiovascular calcification in healthy individuals. A systematic review of the literature that was conducted revealed 10 articles, all cross-sectional studies, that met eligibility criteria. These criteria were peer-reviewed studies on a healthy, adult population written in the English language. Studies lacking data on serum phosphorus and measured to assess its association with vascular calcification were excluded. Studies on subjects with CKD, other chronic diseases, or on children were also excluded. Of the 10 studies located, 8 indicated an association between serum phosphorus and vascular calcification. One study did not indicate an association. One study indicated a statistically significant association between serum phosphorus and vascular calcification prevalence, but not incidence. Studies were limited since no randomized controlled trials were available. This systematic review generates gaps in research. Due to considerable amounts of phosphorus additives in the food supply, there may be a connection to dietary phosphorus and vascular calcification. Additionally, phosphorus binders may assist in the prevention of vascular calcification but have not been studied in a healthy population. Further study on both dietary phosphorus restriction and phosphorus binders is needed. While 8 out of 10 cross-sectional studies found an association in this systematic review, the topic of vascular calcification and serum phosphorus needs further study if a cause and effect relationship is to be detected.

Newly Developed Rat Model of Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral Bone Disorder

Aim: Chronic kidney disease–mineral bone disorder (CKD–MBD) is associated with all-cause and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD. Thus, elucidating its pathophysiological mechanisms is essential for improving the prognosis. We evaluated characteristics of CKD–MBD in a newly developed CKD rat model.

Methods: We used male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats and spontaneously diabetic Torii (SDT) rats, which are used as models for nonobese type 2 diabetes. CKD was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx). At 10 weeks, the rats were classified into six groups and administered with a vehicle or a low- or high-dose paricalcitol thrice a week. At 20 weeks, the rats were sacrificed; blood and urinary biochemical analyses and histological analysis of the aorta were performed.

Results: At 20 weeks, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, blood pressure, and renal function were not significantly different among the six groups. Serum calcium and phosphate levels tended to be higher in SDT-Nx rats than in SD-Nx rats. The urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate was significantly greater in SDT-Nx rats than in SD-Nx rats. After administering paricalcitol, serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels were significantly higher in SDT-Nx rats than in SD-Nx rats. The degree of aortic calcification was significantly more severe and the aortic calcium content was significantly greater in SDT-Nx rats than in SD-Nx rats.

Conclusions: We suggest that our new CKD rat model using SDT rats represents a useful CKD–MBD model, and this model was greatly influenced by paricalcitol administration. Further studies are needed to clarify the detailed mechanisms underlying this model.

Central Hemodynamics for Management of Arteriosclerotic Diseases

Arteriosclerosis, particularly aortosclerosis, is the most critical risk factor associated with cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and renal diseases. The pulsatile hemodynamics in the central aorta consists of blood pressure, flow, and stiffness and substantially differs from the peripheral hemodynamics in muscular arteries. Arteriosclerotic changes with age appear earlier in the elastic aorta, and age-dependent increases in central pulse pressure are more marked than those apparent from brachial pressure measurement. Central pressure can be affected by lifestyle habits, metabolic disorders, and endocrine and inflammatory diseases in a manner different from brachial pressure. Central pulse pressure widening due to aortic stiffening increases left ventricular afterload in systole and reduces coronary artery flow in diastole, predisposing aortosclerotic patients to myocardial hypertrophy and ischemia. The widened pulse pressure is also transmitted deep into low-impedance organs such as the brain and kidney, causing microvascular damage responsible for lacunar stroke and albuminuria. In addition, aortic stiffening increases aortic blood flow reversal, which can lead to retrograde embolic stroke and renal function deterioration. Central pressure has been shown to predict cardiovascular events in most previous studies and potentially serves as a surrogate marker for intervention. Quantitative and comprehensive evaluation of central hemodynamics is now available through various noninvasive pressure/flow measurement modalities. This review will focus on the clinical usefulness and mechanistic rationale of central hemodynamic measurements for cardiovascular risk management.

Mineral and Bone Disorder and Its Association with Cardiovascular Parameters in Chinese Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background:

Mineral and bone disorder (MBD), especially hyperphosphatemia, is an independently risk factor for adverse prognosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, CKD-MBD among Chinese population was poorly studied. This study aimed to investigate the status of MBD and its association with cardiovascular parameters in Chinese patients with predialysis CKD.

Methods:

Chinese Cohort Study of Chronic Kidney Disease (C-STRIDE) is a prospective multicenter cohort study involving predialysis CKD patients in China. Markers of MBD, including serum phosphorus, calcium, and intact parathyroid hormone, were measured in baseline samples at the patients’ entry. The association between serum phosphorus and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were examined by logistic regression models.

Results:

Altogether 3194 predialysis patients with mean estimated glomerular filtration of 51.8 ± 33.1 ml·min⁻¹.1.73 m⁻² were included. The proportion of patients with hyperphosphatemia were 2.6%, 2.9%, 6.8%, and 27.1% in CKD Stages 3a, 3b, 4, and 5, respectively. Moreover, 71.6% of the patients with hyperphosphatemia did not receive any phosphate-binder (PB). Lateral abdominal X-rays were obtained in 2280 patients, 9.8% of the patients were diagnosed as having AAC. Altogether 2219 patients had data of echocardiography, and 13.2% of them were diagnosed with LVH. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum phosphorus was independently associated with the presence of AAC and LVH.

Conclusions:

In Chinese patients with CKD, the percentage of hyperphosphatemia is comparable to that of other countries while the usage of PBs is suboptimal. The prevalence of vascular calcification in Chinese patients is relatively lower compared with the Caucasian population.

Serum phosphorus, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the general population: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The association between elevated serum phosphorus concentration and cardiovascular or all-cause mortality yielded conflicting results.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between elevated serum phosphorus concentration and cardiovascular or all-cause mortality in the general population by conducting a meta-analysis.

METHODS

We systematically searched the Pubmed and Embase databases until March 2016 for the prospective studies investigating serum phosphorus concentration and cardiovascular or all-cause mortality in the general population. We pooled risk ratio (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the highest versus the reference category of serum concentration of phosphorus.

RESULTS

Six prospective cohort studies involving 120,269 subjects were identified. When compared the highest with the reference concentration of serum phosphorus, the pooled RR of cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality were 1.36 (95% CI 1.07-1.72) and 1.35 for all-cause mortality (95% CI 1.15-1.58), respectively. Stratified analyses revealed that elevated serum phosphorus significantly increased all-cause mortality risk among men (RR 1.33; 95% CI 1.11-1.60), but not in women (RR 1.09; 95% CI 0.89-1.33).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated serum phosphorus concentration is independently associated with excessive risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the general population without chronic kidney disease. Serum phosphorus on all-cause mortality risk appears to be pronounced in men but exhibits no clear effect on women. However, gender difference of elevated serum phosphorus on mortality risk should be verified by more prospective studies.