Low iPTH can predict vascular and coronary calcifications in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Background: There is substantial evidence that low levels of serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) are associated with vascular calcium deposition and subsequent increased cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the serum iPTH level, and vascular and coronary artery calcifications (VCs, CACs) and arterial stiffness in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 93 PD patients were included. VCs, CACs and arterial stiffness were measured by simple X-rays of the hands and pelvis, multi-slice coronary CT and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV).

Results: Patients were divided into 3 groups according to iPTH levels. The prevalence of severe VCs (VC score ≥ 3) was highest in the low iPTH group (<150 pg/ml). In multivariate analysis, the presence of diabetes mellitus and a low iPTH were shown to be significant risk factors for severe VCs. In addition, a simple VC score of ≥ 1 was a significant variable for predicting severe CACs (CAC score ≥ 400).

Conclusion: Low iPTH and the presence of diabetes mellitus are thought to be independent risk factors for predicting VCs. VCs determined by simple X-ray can further predict the coexistence of CACs that ultimately might contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in PD patients.