Serum Calcification Propensity T50 Is Associated with Soluble Thrombomodulin in Patients on Hemodialysis

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Levels of circulating soluble thrombomodulin (sTM), an anticoagulant factor, are associated with the severity and progression of arteriosclerotic diseases. However, the role of elevated sTM levels remains to be clarified in patients on dialysis. As the calcification propensity time T50 is a novel marker of arterial calcification, we aimed to determine the association between sTM and T50 in patients on hemodialysis (HD). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 49 adult patients on maintenance HD. Correlation analysis was performed to test the association between T50 and patient characteristics. Linear regression was used to evaluate the association between T50 and sTM. Results: Partial correlation analysis showed a strong association between T50 and glycated albumin, phosphorous, and sTM levels (partial correlation coefficient: r [partial] = −0.359, p = 0.023; r [partial] = −0.579, p < 0.001; and r [partial] = 0.346, p = 0.029, respectively). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that only sTM level was significantly and positively associated with T50 (β = 0.288; t = 2.27; p = 0.029; 95% confidence interval, 0.082–1.403). Conclusions: sTM is independently and positively associated with the propensity time for calcification, suggesting that sTM could be a good marker of arterial calcification progression in patients on HD.