Effect of Peritoneal Dialysis on Sclerosin Level in Serum of Patients with Variable Calcification

To observe the changes in the level of sclerosin in serum of patients after peritoneal dialysis (PD) and to analyze the underlying clinical factors, a total of 94 patients who were subjected to the peritoneal dialysis for over three months in the Nephrology Department of XXX Hospital between January 2019 and January 2020 were enrolled into the experiment group (n = 94). Simultaneously, 94 healthy subjects who received the physical examination were enrolled into the control group. Prior to the enrollment, all subjects had the plain abdominal radiograph, and, according to the abdominal aortic calcification score (AACS), PD patients were divided into the mild calcification group, moderate calcification group and severe calcification group. For all subjects, we detected the levels of relative biochemical indicators and performed the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the levels of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), 25(OH)D and sclerosin in the serum of patients. The levels of sclerosin and FGF-23 in the serum of patients in the experiment group were much higher than those in the control group, while the level of 25(OH)D was lower (P < 0.05). Aggravation of calcification came up with the increases in the levels of sclerosin, FGF-23, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), phosphorus, creatinine and uric acid, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P < 0.05), while the levels of 25(OH)D and calcium in serum and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decreased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the results of Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the level of sclerosin in serum was in positive correlation with age, serum phosphorus, iPTH, FGF-23, AACS, SPB and Creatinine (CREA) (P < 0.05), but in a negative correlation with the levels of 25(OH) D and calcium in serum and eGFR (P < 0.05). Results of logistic regression analysis revealed that AACS, eGFR, FGF-23, iPTH, serum phosphorus and 25(OH)D were the independent risk factors of sclerosin (P < 0.05). PD patients present with the significant elevation in the level of sclerosin in serum, which is clearly associated with the levels of AACS, eGFR, FGF-23, iPTH and serum levels of phosphorus and 25(OH)D.