Positive Associations between Adipocyte Fatty Acid‐Binding Protein Level and Central Arterial Stiffness in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background . Adipocyte fatty acid‐binding protein (A‐FABP) plays essential roles in lipolysis, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum A‐FABP levels and carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Methods . This study obtained fasting blood samples from 76 PD patients. A validated tonometry system was used to measure cfPWV. Patients with cfPWV values >10 m/s were classified into the high arterial stiffness group, whereas patients with values ≤10 m/s were classified into the low arterial stiffness group, according to the ESH‐ESC 2013 guidelines. Serum A‐FABP levels were measured using a commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results . Twenty‐five (32.9%) of the 76 PD patients were classified in the high arterial stiffness group. Compared with the patients in the low arterial stiffness group, the high arterial stiffness group was older ( P = 0.002) and had a longer PD vintage ( P = 0.011), higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP, P = 0.036), higher fasting glucose levels ( P = 0.012), higher serum C reactive protein levels ( P = 0.001), and higher serum A‐FABP levels ( P < 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression analysis of the factors significantly associated with central arterial stiffness revealed that A‐FABP (odds ratio (OR): 1.165, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.056–1.284, P = 0.002), age (OR: 1.423, 95% CI: 1.153–1.757, P = 0.001), PD vintage (OR: 1.049, 95% CI: 1.015–1.085, P = 0.005), and DBP (OR: 1.152, 95% CI: 1.033–1.285, P = 0.011) were independent predictors of central arterial stiffness in PD patients. Furthermore, serum A‐FABP levels ( β = 0.476, adjusted R 2 change: 0.197, P < 0.001) were significantly positively correlated with cfPWV according to the multivariable forward stepwise linear regression analysis. Conclusions . A‐FABP levels are an independent marker of central arterial stiffness in PD patients.