A plain radiological score showed the high prevalence (83%) of VCs in HD patients in spite of a long and intensive dialysis strategy and adherence to guidelines. The main associated factors were classic factors such as ageing and diabetes. No relationship was found with blood pressure and phosphataemia that remained well controlled in long dialysis; the association with FGF-23 serum levels may aggregate some non-traditional risk factors. The harmful effects of VCs on survival require their systematic assessment and optimization of the potentially modifiable associated factors in CKD and HD patients.

Background: Sclerostin is an osteocyte hormone that decreases osteoblastogenesis. Sclerostin may play a key role in osteoporosis and also in vascular calcification (VC). In chronic kidney disease and haemodialysis (HD) patients, serum sclerostin levels are high. Aim: To assess the correlation of serum sclerostin levels with VC, bone mineral density (BMD), and survival rate in HD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in prevalent HD patients to correlate serum sclerostin tertiles with the Kauppila aortic calcification score, BMD scores and survival rate. Results: We studied 207 patients who had a mean serum sclerostin level of 1.9 ± 0.7 ng/ml. Compared to patients in the 1st tertile of serum sclerostin levels (0.6-1.53 ng/ml), patients in the 3rd tertile (2.2-4.6 ng/ml) were significantly older (73.7 ± 12 vs. 64.7 ± 18 years), more frequently of the male gender (74 vs. 48%), had lower serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatases values (14 ± 9 vs. 20.4 ± 13 µg/l), were less frequently treated with alfacalcidol, displayed lower aortic calcification scores (9.5 ± 5 vs. 12.5 ± 7/24) and had higher BMD scores. Furthermore, patients of the 3rd tertile displayed a lower mortality rate compared to tertile 1 using multivariable adjusted Cox model (hazard ratio 0.5, 95% CI 0.25-0.93, p = 0.03). The main factors associated with VC score were age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, CRP level and Warfarin use. Conclusion: Our study of HD patients shows that higher serum sclerostin levels are associated with higher BMD, lower aortic calcification scores, and a better survival rate.

The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency and factors associated with the progression of vascular calcifications (VCs) using a semiquantitative X-ray score. We included all prevalent hemodialysis patients with initial radiological scores ranging from 0 to 3 according to the severity of the VCs. Patients were classified as non-progressors or progressors after 3 years. Among the 85 patients, 44.7% were classified as progressors. Only exhibiting high levels of serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH, >190 pg/ml) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 levels (>3,000 RU/ml) is associated with the risk of VC progression (OR 5.8, 95% CI 1.7–19.8, p = 0.004). Calcitriol analogs (38%), cinacalcet (15%), dialysate calcium (mean 1.48 mmol/l), dialysis session time (4–8 h) and calcium- (10%) and non-calcium-based phosphate binders (38%) were prescribed on an individual basis. Hyperphosphatemia (<10%) and, especially, hypercalcemia (1%) and hyperparathyroidism (>585 pg/ml = 0%) were infrequently observed. In conclusion, the main factor associated with VC progression was the association of higher serum PTH and FGF-23 levels. It remains to be seen whether patients should be treated to lower their PTH value, even within the target range, using calcitriol analogs, calcimimetics, parathyroidectomy, or by modifying the Klotho-FGF-23 axis.

Background: We previously reported that vascular calcification (VC) score was associated with mortality in patients on haemodialysis (HD) and that a high serum level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 were the only factors associated with VC progression. Aim: To assess the impact of VC progression on HD patient survival. Methods: The study cohort including 85 HD patients studied between 2006 and 2007 and between 2009 and 2010 was divided into patients with VC progression (PG+, n = 38) and no-progression (PG-, n = 47), based on VC scores measured twice at 3-year intervals (VC1 and VC2). Patients were followed during 3 additional years. Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis determined that PG+ displayed increased mortality (hazard ratio (HR): 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-4.8; p = 0.03). This result was confirmed using a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, dialysis duration, the VC1 score, and the mean FGF-23 and iPTH serum levels (HR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.12-6.6; p = 0.02). Conclusion: VC progression is associated with poor survival in patients on HD, irrespective of a patient's baseline VC score.

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