Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the serum sclerostin levels in kidney transplant recipients, dialysis patients, and patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD), and evaluate their associations with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid artery plaque presence.

Methods: The study groups included kidney transplant recipients (n = 61), dialysis patients (n = 43), non-dialysis CKD patients (n = 43), and healthy controls (n = 19). Serum sclerostin levels were measured by the ELISA method. All participants underwent imaging tests for the evaluations of CIMT and carotid plaque presence.

Results: Serum sclerostin levels were highest in dialysis patients, followed by the non-dialysis CKD group. Kidney transplant patients and healthy controls had the lowest sclerostin levels. There was a positive correlation between CIMT and sclerostin levels in the CKD group. Sclerostin levels were significantly high in individuals with calcified plaques.

Conclusion: The CIMT and serum sclerostin levels of kidney transplant recipients compared to those of CKD patients with and without dialysis may suggest that transplantation may prevent further atherosclerosis, with sclerostin levels promising a predictive role.