Prevalence of Vertebral Fractures, Vascular Calcifications, and Mortality in Warfarin Treated Hemodialysis Patients.

Prevalence of Vertebral Fractures, Vascular Calcifications, and Mortality in Warfarin Treated Hemodialysis Patients. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2013 Aug 1; Authors: Fusaro M, Tripepi G, Noale M, Plebani M, Zaninotto M, Piccoli A, Naso A, Miozzo D, Giannini S, Avolio M, Foschi A, Rizzo MA, Gallieni M, The Vertebral Fractures And Vascular Calcifications Study Group Abstract Warfarin inhibits vitamin-K dependent proteins involved in bone mineralization and the prevention of vascular calcification (bone Gla protein BGP, matrix Gla protein MGP). In this multicenter, cross-sectional study with 3-year follow-up, data from 387 patients on hemodialysis for ≥1 year at 18 dialysis units were analyzed. Patients on warfarin treatment for > 1 year (11.9% of the population) were compared with the remaining cohort for vertebral fractures, vascular calcifications and mortality. Vertebral fractures and vascular calcifications were sought in L-L vertebral X-rays (D4 to L5). Compared with controls, warfarin-treated male patients had more vertebral fractures (77.8 vs. 57.7%, p<0.04), but not females (42.1% vs. 48.4%, p=0.6); total BGP was markedly reduced (82.35 vs. 202 µg/L, p<0.0001), with lower levels in treated men (69.5 vs. women 117.0 µg/L, p=0.03). On multivariate logistic regression analyses, the use of warfarin was associated with increased odds of aortic (OR 2.58, p<0.001) and iliac calcifications (OR 2.86, p<0.001); identified confounders w...
Source: Current Vascular Pharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Curr Vasc Pharmacol Source Type: research