Abstract: FR-PO0509
Association of Coronary Artery Calcification with Serum Markers of Endothelial Activation and Damage in Patients with CKD: The CRIC Study
Session Information
- CKM: Clinical - Trials, Epidemiology, and Biomarkers
October 23, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health
- 602 Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health: Clinical
Authors
- Rajeswaran, Arulvel, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Saini, Sara, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Eiwaz, Mahaba B., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Torres, Vanessa, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Sibinga, Nicholas, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Riascos-Bernal, Dario F., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Mahant Mahant, Aakash, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Isakova, Tamara, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Dobre, Mirela A., University Hospitals Health System, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Kansal, Mayank, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Cohen, Debbie L., Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Chen, Jing, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
- He, Jiang, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
- Mowrey, Wenzhu, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Chen, Wei, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
Background
Coronary artery calcification (CAC) contributes to high mortality in CKD patients. Animal studies show that endothelial activation and damage contribute to vascular calcification. We hypothesize that serum markers of endothelial activation and damage are associated with CAC in CKD patients.
Methods
Among 1,403 participants with CKD Stages 2–4 from the CRIC Study, we measured 5 serum markers associated with endothelial activation/damage: soluble endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (sE-selectin), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), pentraxin-3, tissue factor, and thrombomodulin. CAC prevalence was defined as >0 Agatston units. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess cross-sectional associations of CAC prevalence and severity with individual markers of endothelial activation and damage. These models also evaluated their weighted linear combination using the first principal component (PC1).
Results
Higher levels of markers of endothelial activation/damage were associated with lower eGFR (p<0.001 for each). Adjusted for demographics and clinical site, higher sE-selectin, thrombomodulin, and PC1 were associated with CAC prevalence: prevalence ratio was 1.05 (95% CI: 1.01-1.09, p=0.008) per 1 standard deviation (SD) higher PC1 (Figure A). Among participants with prevalent CAC (n=915), all markers of activation/damage, except sE-selectin, and their PC1 were associated with greater CAC severity: 1-SD higher PC1 was associated with 34% (95% CI: 17-52%, p<0.001) greater CAC severity (Figure B). Upon further adjustment for comorbidities and eGFR, only the association between PC1 and CAC severity remained significant with a percentage difference of 16% (1%, 34%) per 1-SD higher PC1 (p=0.035).
Conclusion
Elevated serum markers of endothelial activation/damage were associated with CAC, supporting the role of the endothelium in vascular calcification.
Funding
- Other NIH Support