Angiogenic Factors and Risks of Technique Failure and Cardiovascular Events in Patients Receiving Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

Background: Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family that acts as a pleiotropic cytokine capable of stimulating angiogenesis and accelerating atherogenesis. Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) antagonizes PlGF action. Higher levels of PlGF and sFlt-1 have been associated with cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease, yet little is known about their relationship with adverse outcomes in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of PlGF and sFlt-1 with technique survival and cardiovascular events. Methods: We measured serum levels of PlGF and plasma levels of sFlt-1 in 40 PD patients at Nara Medical University. Results: PlGF and sFlt-1 levels were significantly correlated with the dialysate-to-plasma ratio of creatinine (r = 0.342, p = 0.04 and r = 0.554, p < 0.001) although PlGF and sFlt-1 levels were not correlated with total creatinine clearance and total Kt/V. Additionally, both PlGF and sFlt-1 levels were significantly higher in patients with high transport membranes compared to those without (p = 0.039 and p < 0.001, respectively). Patients with PlGF levels above the median had lower technique survival and higher incidence of cardiovascular events than patients with levels below the median, with hazard ratios of 11.9 and 7.7, respectively, in univariate Cox regression analysis. However, sFlt-1 levels were not associated with technique survival or cardiovascular events (p = 0.11 and p = 0.10, respectively). Conclusion: Elevated PlGF and sFlt-1 are significantly associated with high transport membrane status. PlGF may be a useful predictor of technique survival and cardiovascular events in PD patients.