Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 levels and their association with lipid abnormalities in patients on hemodialysis

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between the levels of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)2 levels, serum lipid composition and plasma receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) expression in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). A total of 50 patients on HD (27 men and 23 women; median age, 66 years; age range 28-88 years; HD mean time, 29.0, 3.9-157.0 months) were enrolled. Age-matched healthy subjects (n=26) were used as the control group. Plasma VEGFR2 and RAGE levels were determined using ELISA. Dyslipidemia (D) in patients on HD was diagnosed according to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Clinical Practice Guidelines for Managing Dyslipidemias in Chronic Kidney Disease. Circulating VEGFR2, RAGE and serum lipids were compared between dyslipidemic and non-dyslipidemic patients on HD and controls. In patients on HD, the plasma VEGFR2 levels were lower compared with those in the healthy population. D was associated with high plasma VEGFR2 levels. The triglyceride/HDL-cholesterol ratio was strongly associated with plasma VEGFR2 levels. The plasma VEGFR2 concentration was associated with circulating RAGE levels. Therefore, circulating VEGFR2 levels may be partly associated with lipid abnormalities and plasma RAGE levels in patients receiving HD.