The Relationship Between Urinary System Stone Disease and Serum Fetuin-A Glycoprotein

Year 2025, Volume: 17 Issue: 2, 71 - 77, 30.05.2025

Abdulmecit Yavuz , Serdar Arısan

https://doi.org/10.54233/endourolbull-1621723

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Fetuin-A glycoprotein, a known systemic and localized calcification inhibitor, and urinary system stone disease. 
Material and Methods: A total of 63 patients with urinary stone disease and 70 healthy controls were included. Serum Fetuin-A levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and various biochemical parameters were analyzed. Statistical comparisons were performed by using Pearson correlation to determine relationships, with significance set at p<0.05. 
Results: The mean serum Fetuin-A levels were slightly higher in the stone disease group (503.5 ± 87.6 mg/dL) compared to the control group (462.7 ± 101.6 mg/dL); however, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The mean age was 42.87 ± 11.0 years in the stone group and 41.6 ± 11.7 years in the control group (p=0.497). In the stone group, 65% were male and 35% female, while in the control group, 66% were male and 34% female, with no significant difference in gender distribution (p=0.831). Body mass index (BMI) was 25.3 ± 2.57 kg/m² in the stone group and 26.9 ± 3.08 kg/m² in the control group, also showing no significant difference (p=0.067). No correlations were found between serum Fetuin-A levels and other parameters such as age, BMI, or biochemical markers. 
Conclusion: Although some previous studies have suggested a relationship between Fetuin-A levels and urinary stone disease, this study found no significant association. Further research focusing on genetic polymorphisms of Fetuin-A may clarify its role in stone formation.

Keywords

Kidney Calculi , Urinary Calculi , Fetuins

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Sisli Etfal Trainig and Research Hospital Local Ethics Committee (approval number: 0478-5637).

Supporting Institution

There is no funding for the study.

Üriner Sistem Taş Hastalığı ile Serum Fetuin-A Glikoproteini Arasındaki İlişki

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, sistemik ve lokal bir kalsifikasyon inhibitörü olan Fetuin-A glikoproteini ile üriner sistem taş hastalığı arasındaki ilişki araştırılmıştır.  
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya 63 üriner sistem taş hastası ve 70 sağlıklı kontrol grubu dahil edilmiştir. Serum Fetuin-A seviyeleri ELISA yöntemiyle ölçülmüş ve çeşitli biyokimyasal parametreler analiz edilmiştir. İki grup arasındaki ilişkiyi belirlemek için Pearson korelasyonu kullanıldı ve istatistiksel anlamlılık p<0,05 olarak belirlendi. 
Bulgular: Serum Fetuin-A seviyeleri taş hastalarında (503,5 ± 87,6 mg/dL), kontrol grubuna (462,7 ± 101,6 mg/dL) göre hafifçe yüksek bulunmuş ancak istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark saptanmamıştır (p>0,05). Taş hastalarının yaş ortalaması 42,87 ± 11 yıl, kontrol grubunun ise 41,6 ± 11,7 yıl idi (p=0,497). Taş hastalarının %65’i erkek, %35’i kadın; kontrol grubunun %66’sı erkek, %34’ü kadın olup cinsiyet dağılımı açısından anlamlı fark bulunmamıştır (p=0,831). Vücut kitle indeksi (VKİ) taş hastalarında 25,3 ± 2,57 kg/m², kontrol grubunda 26,9 ± 3,08 kg/m² olup bu fark da anlamlı değildi (p=0,067). Serum Fetuin-A seviyeleri ile yaş, VKİ veya biyokimyasal belirteçler arasında bir ilişki saptanmamıştır. 
Sonuç: Daha önceki bazı çalışmalar Fetuin-A seviyeleri ile üriner sistem taş hastalığı arasında bir ilişki olduğunu öne sürse de, bu çalışmada anlamlı bir ilişki tespit edilmemiştir. Fetuin-A’nın genetik polimorfizmleri üzerinde yapılacak ileri çalışmalar, taş oluşumundaki rolünü daha iyi açıklayabilir.

Keywords

böbrek taşı , Üriner taş , fetuin

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Sisli Etfal Trainig and Research Hospital Local Ethics Committee (approval number: 0478-5637).

References

• 1. Raja A, Fayez R, Morsi H, Abol-Enein H, Mokhtar A. The impact of urinary stone disease on patients’ quality of life. Urolithiasis. 2019;47(4):313-321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-019-01142-0
• 2. Sorokin I, Mamoulakis C, Miyazawa K, Rodgers A, Talati J, Lotan Y. Epidemiology of stone disease across the world. World J Urol. 2017;35(9):1301-1320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-017-2008-6
• 3. Wang Z, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Deng Q, Liang H. Recent advances on the mechanisms of kidney stone formation (Review). Int J Mol Med. 2021;48(2):149. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2021.4982
• 4. Icer MA, Koçak T, Icer Y, et al. Low Serum and Urine Fetuin-A Levels and High Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index as Risk Factors for Kidney Stone Formation. J Clin Med. 2025;14(5):1487. Published 2025 Feb 23. https://doi. org/10.3390/jcm14051487
• 5. Wu J, Tao Z, Deng Y, et al. Calcifying nanoparticles induce cytotoxicity mediated by ROS-JNK signaling pathways. Urolithiasis. 2019;47(2):125-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-018-1048-8
• 6. Emoto M, Mori K, Lee E, Yamada S, Ichikawa S, Tsuchikura S, et al. Inverse correlation between Fetuin-A and atherosclerotic plaque in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2013;36(4):1036-1042. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc12-1847
• 7. Ramírez-Vélez R, García-Hermoso A, Hackney AC, Izquierdo M. Effects of exercise training on Fetuin-a in obese, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adults and elderly: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. Lipids Health Dis. 2019;18(1):23. Published 2019 Jan 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-019-0962-2
• 8. Lanthier N, Lebrun V, Molendi-Coste O, van Rooijen N, Leclercq IA. Liver Fetuin-A at Initiation of Insulin Resistance. Metabolites. 2022;12(11):1023. Published 2022 Oct 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12111023
• 9. Pan X, Wen SW, Bestman PL, Kaminga AC, Acheampong K, Liu A. Fetuin-A in Metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2020;15(3):e0229776. Published 2020 Mar 5. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0229776
• 10. Rudloff S, Jahnen-Dechent W, Huynh-Do U. Tissue chaperoning-the expanded functions of fetuin-A beyond inhibition of systemic calcification. Pflugers Arch. 2022;474(8):949-962. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-022-02688- 6
• 11. Moe SM, Reslerova M, Ketteler M, O’Neill K, Duan D, Koczman J, et al. Role of calcification inhibitors in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Kidney Int. 2005;67(6):2295-2304. https:// doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.00328.x
• 12. Aksoy S, Aydin S, Aydin S, Bas F, Celik B, Celik M, et al. The relationship between fetuin-A levels and kidney stone disease. Clin Invest Med. 2011;34(5):E281. https://doi.org/10.25011/cim.v34i5.15580
• 13. Emoto M, Mori K, Tsuchikura S, Yamada S, Ichikawa S, Lee E, et al. Fetuin-A and atherosclerotic calcified plaque in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism. 2010;59(6):873-878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. metabol.2009.10.021
• 14. Al Ali L, van de Vegte YJ, Said MA, et al. Fetuin-A and its genetic association with cardiometabolic disease. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):21469. Published 2023 Dec 6. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48600-9
• 15. Wang MC, Tsai WC, Chen JY, Huang JJ. Association between fetuin-A and renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease. Clin Lab. 2010;56(9-10):423-429. 16. Geraghty R, Lovegrove C, Howles S, Sayer JA. Role of Genetic Testing in Kidney Stone Disease: A Narrative Review. Curr Urol Rep. 2024;25(12):311-323. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-024-01225-5