Serum sclerostin level might be a potential biomarker for arterial stiffness in prevalent hemodialysis patients

To explore the relationship between circulating sclerostin levels and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in prevalent hemodialysis (HD) patients. 154 HD patients were enrolled and examined for serum sclerostin level, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), abdominal artery calcification and calcaneus bone marrow density. Serum sclerostin level was significantly elevated in patients with arterial stiffness. Univariate correlation showed serum sclerostin level significantly correlated with intact parathyroid hormone level, cf-PWV and calcaneus bone marrow density. Multiple linear regression analysis in patients with parathyroid hormone ≤300 pg/ml showed that pulse pressure, logAACs and serum sclerostin level were significant independent factors for cf-PWV. Serum sclerostin level was significantly associated with PWV in prevalent HD patients without hyperparathyroidism.