Introduction and objective:
The aim of the study is to investigate the clinical role of miR-10b-5p in vascular calcification (VC) of diabetic nephropathy (DN) patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis (MHD).

Material and methods:
In this study, 156 patients with DN undergoing MHD were enrolled into the study. Based on coronary angiography results, they were divided into the VC group (n = 93) and the non-VC group (n = 63). miR-10b-5p levels were obtained by RT-qPCR. The relationship between miR-10b-5p and PTH, CRP, and Ca-P product levels was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was utilized to analyze the independent risk factors of VC in DN patients undergoing MHD. ROC curves were utilized to analyze the efficacy of serum miR-10b-5p combined with PTH, CRP, and Ca-P product levels in predicting VC in DN patients undergoing MHD.

Results:
miR-10b-5p was decreased in DN patients undergoing MHD with VC, while PTH, CRP, and Ca-P product were significantly elevated. In addition, in VC patients, miR-10b-5p was negatively correlated with PTH, CRP, and Ca-P product. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that miR-10b-5p, PTH, CRP, and Ca-P product are independent risk factors of VC occurrence in DN patients undergoing MHD. The ROC curves showed that serum miR-10b-5p combined with PTH, CRP, and Ca-P product levels had high diagnostic value for VC occurrence in DN patients undergoing MHD.

Conclusions:
A low level of miR-10b-5p may be a potential risk factor for VC occurrence in DN patients undergoing MHD. The combination of miR-10b-5p with PTH, CRP, and Ca-P product shows potential as clinical diagnostic biomarkers for the occurrence of VC in DN patients undergoing MHD.