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

Aim: To explore the relationship between circulating sclerostin levels and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in prevalent hemodialysis (HD) patients. Patients & methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: Serum sclerostin level was significantly associated with PWV in prevalent HD patients without hyperparathyroidism.