Interleukin 10 and residual kidney function are associated with risk of vascular calcification in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Aims: Vascular calcificationis a common complication among dialysis patients and its pathogenesis involves a variety of factors. The roles of pro-inflammatory cytokines and residual kidney function (RKF) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with vascular calcificationhave not been investigated. Materials and methods: 157 stable PD patients were enrolled. All patients had plain X-ray film examination including chest (posterior-anterior view, CXR) and pelvis. Vascular calcificationwas interpreted as calcified deposit over aortic arch and linear calcificationof pelvic arteries. Relevant biochemical data, pro-inflammatory markers, and PD-related factors were measured and collected. Results: Vascular calcificationprevalence in CXRs was higher than that in pelvisfilms (38.2% vs. 22.3%, p < 0.05). Patients with vascular calcificationin CXR had higher incidence of calcificationin pelvisfilms (p < 0.05). Only a minor portion (14.6%) had two calcificationsites. Regression analysis revealed that age, PD duration, body mass index, and RKF were independent factors associated with vascular calcificationin CXR. Age, diabetes, IL-10 and RKF were factors associated in pelvisfilms. Factors independently related to vascular calcificationin both films were age, duration, diabetes, IL-10, and RKF. Conclusions: Besides traditional risk factors, IL-10 and RKF were important factors associated with vascular calcificationin PD patients.