The Relationship between Serum Sclerostin Levels and Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Predialysis Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: The most common cause of increased morbidity and death throughout the chronic kidney disease (CKD) process is atherosclerosis, which advances quickly and is linked to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Sclerostin levels in CKD and CVDs have a complicated connection. Objective: We examined the relationship between serum sclerostin levels and atherosclerosis in patients with stage 3, 4, or 5 CKD who were not receiving hemodialysis treatment. Patients and Methods: A total of 125 patients aged >18 years with CKD stage 3, stage 4 and non-dialysis stage 5 were enrolled in the study. Patients with obesity, uncontrolled hypertension, coronary artery disease, with active cancer or liver disease, malignant hematologic disorders, acute renal failure, acute or chronic infections, were excluded. As for the control group; healthy volunteers without any known illness, regular drug use, smoking, alcohol use, and obesity were recruited. Results: Study population was diagnosed as 39.2% with diabetes mellitus and 91.2% of patients with arterial hypertension. 54% of the patients were female. There was a positive correlation between serum sclerostin levels and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). A negative correlation was found between serum sclerostin levels and GFR and 25-OH vitamin D levels. Sclerostin levels were found to be significantly higher in the group with high CIMT levels. There was no difference in terms of other parameters. Conclusion: Sclerostin levels were significantly higher in patients with abnormal CIMT independent of GFR, calcium, phosphorus and PTH values. This finding suggests that the serum sclerotin level can be used as a CVD marker in patients with CKD.