The relationship between coronary calcification and the metabolic markers of osteopontin, fetuin-A, and visfatin

OBJECTIVES
We investigated whether coronary calcification detected by multislice computed tomography (MSCT) was correlated with plasma osteopontin, serum fetuin-A, and visfatin levels.

STUDY DESIGN
The study included 64 consecutive patients (51 males, 13 females; mean age 49.5±10.9 years; range 33 to 78 years) who underwent MSCT for suspected coronary artery disease. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) scores of the patients were calculated using the Agatston scoring method. Plasma osteopontin, serum fetuin-A, and visfatin levels were measured from fasting blood samples and correlations were sought with calcium scores.

RESULTS
Coronary calcification was detected in 32 patients (50%). The mean CAC score was 146.5±333.7 Agatston units (AU), indicating an intermediate risk for coronary artery disease. In 10 patients (15.6%), the CAC score exceeded 400 AU. The mean fetuin-A, visfatin, and osteopontin levels were 25.6±6.4 ng/ml, 19.7±47.2 ng/ml, and 20.4±16.1 ng/ml, respectively. Serum visfatin (r=0.15, p=0.37) and fetuin-A (r=0.17, p=0.22) were not correlated with the CAC score, whereas plasma osteopontin level showed a moderate correlation with the CAC score (r=0.35; p=0.008). In ROC analysis, the area under the curve for identification of CAC was greatest for osteopontin (0.741; p=0.004), followed by fetuin-A (0.574; p=0.31), and visfatin (0.580; p=0.27). The cut-off value was 18.45 ng/ml for osteopontin, with a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 73%.

CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that there might be an association between CAC and plasma osteopontin levels. Research should continue to find out a metabolic parameter that will strongly indicate coronary calcification.