Vitamin K In PEritonial DIAlysis (VIKIPEDIA): Rationale and study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Vascular calcification (VC) is an active process, resulting from the disturbance of balance between inhibitors and promoters of calcification, in favor of the latter. Matrix Gla Protein, a powerful inhibitor of VC, needs vitamin K to become active. In vitamin K depletion, plasma levels of the inactive form of MGP, dephosphorylated, uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP) are increased and associated with VC and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients have increased circulating dp-ucMGP levels and accelerated VC. Vitamin K In PEritoneal DIAlysis (VIKIPEDIA) is a prospective, randomized, open label, placebo-controlled trial, evaluating the effect of vitamin K2 supplementation on arterial stiffness and CV events in ESRD patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Forty-four PD patients will be included in the study. At baseline, dp-ucMGP and pulse-wave velocity (PWV) will be assessed and then patients will be randomized (1:1 ratio) to vitamin K (1000 mu g MK-7/day) or placebo for 1.5 years. The primary endpoint of this trial is the change in PWV in the placebo group as compared to the treatment group. Secondary endpoints are the occurrence of CV events, mortality, changes in PD adequacy, change in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure indexes and aortic systolic blood pressure and changes in calcium/phosphorus/parathormone metabolism. VIKIPEDIA is a new superiority randomized, open label, placebo-controlled trial aiming to determine the effect of vitamin K2 supplementation on VC, CV disease and calcium/phosphorus metabolism, in PD patients.