Serum Sortilin Is Associated with Coronary Artery Calcification and Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> To analyze the role of serum sortilin in coronary artery calcification (CAC) and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (CCE) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> One hundred eleven patients with MHD ≥3 months were included in this study. The general data, clinical features, hematological data, and medication history of the patients were recorded. Eighty-five cases were examined by vascular color Doppler ultrasound, cardiac color Doppler ultrasound, lateral lumbar radiography, and coronary artery calcification score. The patients were followed up for a median time of 45 months. The primary endpoint was CCE or death from a vascular event, and the role of sortilin in this process was analyzed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Among 85 MHD patients, 51 cases (60.00%) had different degrees of CAC. There were significant differences in diabetes, dialysis time, serum phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus product, medical history of phosphate binders, sortilin, and carotid artery plaque between 4 different degrees of calcification groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes (OR = 5.475; 95% CI: 1.794–16.71, <i>p</i> = 0.003), calcium-phosphorus product (OR = 2.953; 95% CI: 1.198–7.279, <i>p</i> = 0.019), and sortilin (OR = 1.475 per 100 pg/mL; 95% CI: 1.170–1.858, <i>p</i> = 0.001) were independent risk factors for CAC. During the follow-up, 28 cases of 111 patients (25.23%) suffered from CCE. There were significant differences in CCE between mild, moderate, and severe CAC groups and noncalcification groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that diabetes mellitus (HR 3.424; 95% CI: 1.348–8.701, <i>p</i> = 0.010), CAC (HR 5.210; 95% CI: 1.093–24.83, <i>p</i> = 0.038), and serum sortilin (HR = 8.588; 95% CI: 1.919–38.43, <i>p</i> = 0.005) were independent risk factors for CCE. Besides, we proposed a cutoff value of 418 pg/mL for serum sortilin level, which was able to predict the occurrence of CCE with 75.0% sensitivity and 71.9% specificity. The area under the curve was 0.778 (95% CI: 0.673–0.883). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Sortilin is newly found to be independently associated with CAC and CCE in MHD patients.