Blood osteoprotegerin is associated with arteriovenous access thrombosis in hemodialysis patients.

Background: A functioning arteriovenous (AV) access is essential for hemodialysis efficiency and the quality of life in hemodialysis patients. Blood osteoprotegerin (OPG) and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) have been linked to cardiovascular diseases and vascular calcification. This study investigated the relationship between blood OPG, RANKL, and the occurrence of AV access thrombosis.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted from August 2016 to August 2021 and included patients undergoing prevalent hemodialysis in two hospital-based hemodialysis units. Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to evaluate the association between blood OPG, RANKL, and AV access (AV fistula [AVF] and AV graft [AVG]) outcomes.

Results: A total of 333 hemodialysis patients were enrolled, with an AV access thrombosis rate of 22.2%. Cox regression identified several factors associated with AV access thrombosis: AV access type (AVF vs. AVG; hazard ratio [HR], 0.24; p < 0.001), C-reactive protein (HR, 1.07; p = 0.002), and log-transformed OPG (HR, 5.52; p = 0.005). Subgroup analysis revealed high log-transformed OPG and RANKL were associated with AVF thrombosis (HR, 10.77; p = 0.002 and HR, 3.26; p = 0.009, respectively), while high C-reactive protein increased the risk of AVG thrombosis (HR, 1.31; p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with AVF in the highest tertile of log OPG (>402 pg/mL) had the highest AVF thrombosis incidence (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: High blood OPG was associated with AV access thrombosis, particularly in the AVF.