Serum ferritin is an independent factor in coronary artery stenosis among hemodialysis patients.

Hemodialysis patients frequently receive intravenous iron for the treatment of anemia. Iron status has been found to be correlated with coronary artery disease. In the post hoc study reported here, we evaluate the association between iron status and coronary arterial stenosis (CAS) in a 3-year follow-up period. We enrolled 76 patients and collected iron status, and clinical/biochemical data over 3 years. In this study, coronary arterial stenosis was considered significant when the narrowing of the coronary artery exceeded 50 % of the luminal diameter on coronary angiography. The mean age was 61 years old. The female/male ratio was 48/28, and the group included 16 diabetic patients and 23 smokers. Twenty-two of 76 patients had CAS. Mean intravenous iron dosage was 2167.11 ± 1738.38 in a 3-year period. On the univariate regression analysis, 3-year-averaged serum ferritin was positively associated with CAS (r = 0.288, P = 0.012). The 3-year-averaged intravenous iron dosage, DM, age, smoking, and other biochemical parameters showed no association with CAS. When these factors were added to the multivariate-adjusted models, 3-year-averaged serum ferritin remained a determinant of CAS event (ß = 0.290, P = 0.029). The odds ratio for CAS was 6.93 (95 % CI 2.41-19.94; P = 0.001) for patients with 3-year-averaged serum ferritin ≥600 ng/mL. In summary, serum ferritin was an independent risk factor for CAS among this group of hemodialysis patients, especially when serum ferritin was ≥600 ng/mL.

Serum ferritin is associated with arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients: results of a 3-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Iron may contribute to vascular injury through reactive oxygen species. Hemodialysis patients frequently receive iron supply for correction of anemia and are at a high risk of cardiovascular disease. We tested the relationship between iron status and change in arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We measured iron status in 53 hemodialysis patients and studied the association with clinical, biochemical, and arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) over 3 years. The blood pressure was controlled to below 140/90 mmHg by anti-hypertensive drugs. RESULTS: Median and interquartile range of baseline baPWV, baPWV at 3 years, and ΔbaPWV (difference between 3-year baPWV and baseline baPWV) were following: 17.6 (14.8-18.9), 16.9 (15.3-19.9), and 0.2 (-1.2 to 2.7) m/s. At baseline, baPWV was positively correlated with age, serum ferritin, and systolic blood pressure in univariate analysis. However, in multivariate analysis, only age and serum ferritin remained the significant determinants of baseline baPWV. After 3 years, ΔbaPWV was negatively correlated with age and positively with 3-year averaged serum ferritin in univariate analysis. Then, in multivariate analysis, only 3-year averaged serum ferritin was the important determinant of ΔbaPWV. ΔbaPWV was significantly increased in patients with 3-year averaged serum ferritin >500 ng/mL compared to patients with 3-year averaged serum ferritin ≤500 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: In hemodialysis patients, serum ferritin associates with the progressive arterial stiffness, especially when serum ferritin >500 ng/mL.