BACKGROUND/AIM: We measured serum level of pentosidine in 39 dialysis patients, whose atherosclerotic change was evaluated by means of aortic calcification index (ACI) and tried to confirm a significant correlation between them.
METHOD: Thirty-nine dialysis patients (22 men, 17 wemen) aged 20-79 years (52.4±10.8 years) were studie. The mean duration of HD was 141.8±52.4 months. ACI was assessed using abdominal CT scans obtained from 1993 to 1997, and the annual change (ΔACI) was calculated. Determination of pentosidine was performed by a competitive ELISA method.
RESULTS: ACI was increased progressively and significantly as follows: 21.1±18.7 in 1993, 32.4±21.2 in 1995, and 38.4±21.8 in 1997 (p<0.0001). ΔACI (1993-1997) was 4.0±2.16 on average. Serum concentration of pentosidine was remarkably increased to as high as 2425±1161pmol/mL on average. Serum value of pentosidine/mgTP correlated weakly, but significantly with ACI (ρ=0.353 p=0.0297), but not ΔACI in univariable analysis. Multiple regression analysis showed that pentosidine/mg total protein (TP) together with calender age were significant explanatory variables for ACI.
CONCLUSION: Pentosidine is probably involved in some process common to an ubiquitous mechanism of maturation in atherosclerosis.