CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Introduction: Vascular calcification (VC) is the leading cause of death in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD). The vitamin K-dependent Gla protein matrix is a VC inhibitor and is inactive in renal patients. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin K2 on vascular calcification in patients with ESRD on HD. Experimental design: Prospective, randomized study. Men and women ≥ 18 years were included in HD ≥ 6 months. The study subjects (n = 59) constituted a control group: n= 24 (1000 μl of physiological serum) or treated group: n= 35 (1000 μl with 1000 mg of Vitamin K2). Vitamin K2 was administered three times a week. Calcium and phosphorus were determined. The product Ca x P was obtained. The CV was evaluated before and after 6 months of treatment by means of echodoppler of the intimate medium of the carotid arteries. Factorial ANOVA was performed for paired data. The StatGraphics Centurion XVII statistical package was used. Results: The treated group before treatment had 30.43% of cases above 55 mg/dl of Ca x P product, and after treatment, 26.09% above this value vs. untreated patients who showed no variation. The echodoppler showing the right (RCT) and left carotid thickness (LCT) were: Baseline parameters: Treated group 0.752 ± 0.06 (RCT), 0.811 ± 0.06 (LCT) vs untreated group 0.793 ± 0.05 (RCT) and 0.778 ± 0.04 (LCT). After treatment: 0.718 ± 0.18; 0.831 ± 0.16; vs 1.01 ± 0.19, 1,005 ± 0.21, respectively, p = 0.0002 in the the treated group vs. the untreated group after treatment. Conclusion: Treatment with Vit K2 significantly decreased the Ca x P product and vascular calcification in the treated group. Vitamin K2 could be a beneficial therapy for ESRD patients on HD.