Serum Angiopoietin-like Protein 3 Levels Are Associated with Endothelial Function in Patients with Maintenance Hemodialysis

Abstract

Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) plays an important role in lipid and lipoprotein trafficking and metabolism and is positively correlated with cardiovascular disease. Our objective was to evaluate the association between serum ANGPTL3 levels and endothelial function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). We enrolled 116 patients on MHD and obtained their blood test results from their medical records. Using a noninvasive digital thermal monitor, we determined the vascular reactivity index (VRI) as a measure of endothelial function. Serum ANGPTL3 concentration was measured by a commercial-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Vascular reactivity was classified as poor in 17 (14.7%) patients, intermediate (1.0 ≤ VRI p p = 0.025) increased significantly as the VRI decreased. The log-transformed serum ALP (log-ALP, r = −0.187, p = 0.045) and log-ANGPTL3 (r = −0.319, p p < 0.001) on multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis. The findings of our investigation showed that, in patients with MHD, the ANGPTL3 concentration had a negative correlation with the VRI.

Keywords

• endothelial function
• angiopoietin-like protein 3
• hemodialysis
• digital thermal monitoring test
• vascular reactivity index