A negative association of i-PTH levels with PAD, as well as with cardiacand aortic valve calcification was also found in previous studies.27,34 The reasons for this negative association are not clear butmight be related to a tendency toward a soft tissue calcification in low-turnoverbone disease or to the association between low i-PTH levels andmalnutrition.35 It isworth pointing out, however, that the inverse association between i-PTH levels andthe presence of PAD is not a uniform finding. The gene discussed is PTH; the disease is peripheral arterial disease.