Correlation study of serum vitamin K and Gas6 levels with aortic arch calcification and left ventricular hypertrophy in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among MHD patients, with aortic arch calcification and left ventricular hypertrophy as common complications. The role of vitamin K-dependent protein Gas6 in these structural changes remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the relationship between serum vitamin K2/Gas6 levels and the presence of aortic arch calcification/left ventricular hypertrophy in MHD patients.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 189 patients with MHD. Serum vitamin K2 (MK-7) and Gas6 levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). LVMI stratified patients into LVH (n=110) and non-LVH (n=79) groups, and by AACS into four calcification severity groups (n=46, 54, 53, 36). Group differences were analyzed using Spearman correlation and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

LVH patients were older and had higher BNP, creatinine and Gas6 levels, but lower vitamin K2 levels (P<0.05). Across AACS groups, age, glucose, phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus product, vitamin K2 and Gas6 differed significantly. Vitamin K2 correlated positively with calcium (r=0.822) and negatively with Gas6 (r= -0.339). Age >65 years and vitamin K2 <2.39 nmol/L were independent AACS risk factors.

CONCLUSION

No correlation was found between serum vitamin K or Gas6 and LVH in MHD patients. AACS negatively correlated with vitamin K and positively with Gas6.