Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective T o investigate the relationship between serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) level and vascular calcification in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods A total of 98 MHD patients admitted to the First Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University were recruited. They were divided into calcification group (n=64) and non-calcification group (n=34). Their baseline clinical data were collected. The correlations between serum MIF level and abdominal aortic calcification score (AACS), serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were analyzed. We also analyzed the influencing factors for vascular calcification, and the predictive values of serum MIF, 25-hydroxyvitaminD (25(OH)D), calcium, phosphorus and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels for vascular calcification in MHD patients. Results In calcification group, serum 25(OH)D level decreased significantly (t=15.408, P<0.001), while serum calcium, phosphorus, iPTH, MIF, IL- 6 and TNF-α levels increased (t=12.098, 13.384, 24.570, 7.255, 9.694 and 15.567 respectively; P＜0.001) as compared with those in non-calcification group. Serum MIF level was positively correlated with IL- 6 and TNF- α levels and AACS score (r=0.666, 0.693,
0.501; P<0.001). The areas under curves (AUCs) of serum MIF, 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphorus and iPTH for the diagnosis of vascular calcification in MHD patients were 0.841, 0.698, 0.709, 0.665 and 0.716 respectively; the AUC of integrated serum biochemical parameters was 0.919, better than the diagnostic efficiency using single serum biochemical parameter. Conclusions Serum MIF level increased significantly in MHD patients,which is related to the inflammatory state and vascular calcification, and is an independent risk factor for vascular calcification in MHD patients. Integrated estimation of serum MIF, 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphorus and iPTH levels will be more useful for the prediction of vascular calcification in MHD patients.

Key words: Maintenance hemodialysis, Macrophage migration inhibitory factor, Vascular calcification