Figure 3.

The ratio of FMC contained in the serum of predialysis patients increases with greater severity of CKD. Fetuin-A levels measured by ELISA (Epitope Diagnostic) are significantly reduced at all stages of CKD after centrifugation at 16,000 × g. Serum is processed as described in Figure 1. (A) Serum and supernatant fetuin-A levels are comparable in normal individuals (a), whereas supernatant levels are significantly lower than those of serum in patients with stages 1 and 2 CKD (b). Results are similar for stages 3 (c), 4 (d), and 5 CKD (e). Normal control subjects, n = 11; stages 1 and 2 CKD, n = 15; stage 3 CKD, n = 28; stage 4 CKD, n = 15; stage 5 CKD, n = 15 (Wilcoxon signed-ranks test). (B) RR of fetuin-A increases with CKD progression (P < 0.05 for trend, Jonckheere-Terpstra test). *Stage 5 serves as reference for Dunnet test.