The relationship between sclerostin and carotid artery atherosclerosis in patients with stages 3-5 chronic kidney disease

Abstract Background: Sclerotin is an antagonist of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway, may play an important role in the pathophysiology of artery atherosclerosis. Previously, we reported that sclerostin was closely related to carotid atherosclerosis and the long-term outcomes of hemodialysis patients. Here, we aimed to investigate the associations of sclerostin with renal function and carotid artery atherosclerosis in non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease in stages 3–5 (CKD 3–5ND). Methods: A total of 140 patients with CKD 3–5ND were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration Equation (CKD-EPI) was used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques were identified by B-mode Doppler ultrasound. Blood samples were collected to assess serum sclerostin. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Results: The median eGFR and serum sclerostin were 24.9 mL/min/1.73m 2 (interquartile range: 10.0 to 40.3 mL/min/1.73m 2 ) and 46.76 pmol/L (interquartile range: 30.18 to 67.56 pmol/L) , respectively. Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were detected in 104 subjects (74.3%). There was a negative association between sclerostin and eGFR (r = -0.214, p = 0.011). Unconditional logistic regression revealed that sclerostin was an independent factor that was significantly related to the presence of carotid plaques, with odds ratio (OR) of 1.026 (1.003, 1.051). Conclusions: Patients with CKD 3–5ND showed a gradual increase in serum sclerostin with declining renal function, and sclerostin is an independent correlate for carotid atherosclerosis.