| Objective: The aim of present study was to evaluate the changes in serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and soluble TNF like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK), as biomarkers of atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular outcome in the hemodialysis (HD) patients and renal transplant recipients (RTR).
Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 30 stable chronic HD patients, 30 stable RTRs and 30 normal controls. Biochemical factors, sTWEAK, FGF-23, Interlukin-6 (IL-6) were determined by standard methods.
Results: Serum levels of sTWEAK in RTR were significantly higher than those in the HD patients (p=0.025) and both groups had significantly lower sTWEAK levels than controls (p=0.001 and p= 0.038 respectively). Serum levels of FGF-23 in HD patients were significantly higher than those in the RTR (p=0.001) and in both groups were higher than those in controls (p=0.001 both the cases). The mean serum level of IL-6 in HD was significantly higher than that in RTR patients(p=0.013). IL-6 levels in both groups were significantly higher than those in controls(p=0.001 and p= 0.012 respectively).
Conclusion:
Although our study shows that serum sTWEAK is decreased and FGF-23 is increased in HD and RTR groups comparing with control group, their direct role on atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular outcome needs further studies in the future. |