The evaluation of the relationship between fetuin-A and traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors in kidney transplantation recipients

Objectives: Kidney transplantation recipients (KTRs) have higher cardiovascular complications risk compared to the general population. Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF, Traditional and non-traditional) are widely studied to understand the causes of increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in KTRs. Fetuin-A prevents from vascular calcification (VC) by inhibiting production and collapsing of apatite crystals to the vascular wall. The relationship between fetuin-A levels and CVRF in KTRs was investigated in this study. Methods: Sixty-two KTRs with no prior CVD history participated. Anthropometrical, laboratory (fetuin-A, inflammation markers, antioxidants, lipid peroxidation products) and cardiological (echocardiographic, pulse wave velocity) measurements were performed. Participants were divided into two groups according to normal (≥ 0.5 g/L, n = 32, NFA) and low ( 0.05). The ratios of drug usage such as immunosuppressives, anti-hypertensives and statin were comparable between two groups.  Parathormone levels were significantly higher in the NFA group ( p = 0.015) and glomerular filtration rate was calculated significantly higher in LFA group ( p = 007). The comparison of other CVRF reveals no significant difference ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: Although many CVRF improved in KTRs, subclinical inflammation markers were still higher than the healthy population. Identification and early recognition of CVRF in high-risk individuals may contribute to the reduction of cardiovascular mortality. In our study, we observed no significant relationship between fetuin-A levels and CVRFs.  We evaluated the relationship between serum fetuin-A levels on cardiovascular risk factors by its role in pathophysiology.