Abstract: Objective To investigate the association of serum hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) to carotid atherosclerosis in maintenance hemodialysis(MHD) patients. Methods Fifty MHD patients and thirty healthy volunteers were involved in the study. The levels of serum HGF were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Intima-media thickness(IMT) and prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques of the extracranial common carotid artery were measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Results Serum HGF levels in hemodialysis patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls [(957.88±236.87)pg/ml VS (731.55 ± 244.05)pg/ml, P＜0.01]. The levels of serum HGF increased with the progression of atheroclerosis. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that independent risk factors associated with IMT were level of HGF, age, duration of dialysis,high density lipoprotein (HDL) and Lp(a). Conclusions Serum HGF levels in maintenance hemodialysis patients are associated with the development of atherosclerosis.

Key words: Maintenance hemodialysis, Atherosclerosis