Role of Osteoprotegerin in Vascular Disorders of the End-stage Renal Disease Patients

Aim: To assess the osteoprotegerin (OPG) relationship with cardiovascular complications in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: The study included 87 HD patients. Clinical characteristics, ankle-arm index (AAI), OPG and mineral markers levels were recorded. Arterial intimal calcification (AIC) and arterial medial calcification (AMC) were registered.

Results: OPG levels were increased in HD patients. Patients with AIC (p = 0.006)/ AMC (p = 0.01) had higher OPG levels. OPG did not have any relation with cardiovascular diseases. OPG correlated positively with age, increased HD vintage and inversely with albumin and AAI. OPG has not been a risk factor for VC or cardiovascular disease.

Conclusion: OPG rising could be a reaction in defense to vascular aggression, because OPG was associated with VC, but not with vascular disease.