The relationship between sclerostin and carotid artery atherosclerosis in patients with stage 3–5 chronic kidney disease

Purpose Sclerostin is an antagonist of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We previously reported that sclerostin is closely related to carotid artery atherosclerosis and long-term outcome in hemodialysis patients. The present study investigated the association between sclerostin, renal function, and carotid artery atherosclerosis in non-dialysis patients with stage 3–5 chronic kidney disease (CKD 3–5ND). Methods A total of 140 patients with CKD 3–5ND were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation was used to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery were detected by B-mode Doppler ultrasound. Blood samples were collected to assess serum sclerostin levels. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Results The median eGFR was 24.9 ml/min/1.73 m 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 10.0–40.3 ml/min/1.73 m 2 ) and median serum sclerostin level was 46.76 pmol/l (IQR 30.18–67.56 pmol/l). Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were detected in 104 subjects (74.3%). There was a negative association between sclerostin level and eGFR ( r = − 0.214, p = 0.011). Unconditional logistic regression analysis revealed that sclerostin level was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of carotid plaques, with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.026 (1.003, 1.051). Conclusion Serum sclerostin increases with declining renal function in patients with CKD 3–5ND. Sclerostin is an independent risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis.