What does this research mean for the field?

Kidney transplantation is associated with lower serum sclerostin levels and reduced carotid intima-media thickness compared to dialysis and non-dialysis chronic kidney disease, suggesting sclerostin may serve as a predictive marker for atherosclerosis progression. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to assess serum sclerostin levels in kidney transplant recipients and CKD patients, examining their relationship with CIMT and plaque presence.

March 1, 2026Open Access

Evaluation of the Association of Serum Sclerostin and Carotid Intima Media Thickness with Chronic Kidney Failure and Kidney Transplantation

Key Result

null

Key Points

The study aims to assess serum sclerostin levels in kidney transplant recipients and CKD patients, examining their relationship with CIMT and plaque presence.
Measured serum sclerostin using the ELISA method.
Included kidney transplant recipients, dialysis patients, non-dialysis CKD patients, and healthy controls.
Performed imaging tests to evaluate CIMT and carotid plaque presence.
Sclerostin levels were highest in dialysis patients and lowest in kidney transplant recipients.
A positive correlation was found between CIMT and sclerostin levels in the CKD group.
Individuals with calcified plaques had significantly high sclerostin levels.

Structured PICO

Are serum sclerostin levels associated with carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaque presence across different stages of chronic kidney disease and kidney transplantation?

Population

166 individuals including kidney transplant recipients (n=61), dialysis patients (n=43), non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients (n=43), and healthy controls (n=19).

Outcome

Serum sclerostin levels, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and carotid artery plaque presencesurrogate

Serum sclerostin levels correlate with carotid intima-media thickness in CKD patients and are lower in kidney transplant recipients, suggesting a potential predictive role for atherosclerosis.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the serum sclerostin levels in kidney transplant recipients, dialysis patients, and patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD), and evaluate their associations with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid artery plaque presence. Methods: The study groups included kidney transplant recipients (n 61), dialysis patients (n 43), non-dialysis CKD patients (n 43), and healthy controls (n 19). Serum sclerostin levels were measured by the ELISA method. All participants underwent imaging tests for the evaluations of CIMT and carotid plaque presence. Results: Serum sclerostin levels were highest in dialysis patients, followed by the non-dialysis CKD group. Kidney transplant patients and healthy controls had the lowest sclerostin levels. There was a positive correlation between CIMT and sclerostin levels in the CKD group. Sclerostin levels were significantly high in individuals with calcified plaques. Conclusion: The CIMT and serum sclerostin levels of kidney transplant recipients compared to those of CKD patients with and without dialysis may suggest that transplantation may prevent further atherosclerosis, with sclerostin levels promising a predictive role.

Bookmark

View Full Paper