OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of fetuin-A with residual renal function and carotid artery calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODSBlood examples were collected form 60 CKD patients in stages CKD3 to CKD5 (20 patients per stage) for measurement of serum fetuin-A, albumin, calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone, cholesterol, triglycercide, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein. MDRD equation was used to calculate the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and ELISA was used to detect serum fetuin-A. Color Doppler ultrasound was performed to measure carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).

RESULTSAs the eGFR decreased, serum fetuin-A significantly decreased in CKD5 stage compared with that in CKD4 stage (P<0.05); compared with that in CKD3 stage, serum fetuin-A level was significantly lowered in CKD4 stage (P<0.05). Linear regression analysis suggested a significant positive correlation between fetuin-A and eGFR. The rate of carotid artery calcification was the highest in CKD5 stage. Rank correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between fetuin-A and cIMT, and logistic regression analysis identified decreased serum Fetuin-A as a risk factor of carotid artery calcification.

CONCLUSIONSerum fetuin-A decreases following the decrease in eGFR, and decreased serum Fetuin-A level is a risk factor of carotid artery calcification in CKD patients.