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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Not all inflammatory markers are linked to kidney function: results from a population-based study.
Menno Pruijm1, Belén Ponte, Peter Vollenweider
1Department of Nephrology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland.
American Journal of Nephrology
|March 9, 2012
Summary
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is linked to reduced kidney function in the general population. While other inflammatory markers showed associations with microalbuminuria, only TNF-α was independently associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with elevated inflammatory biomarkers, but population-level data are limited.
- This study investigates inflammatory markers across the full spectrum of kidney function in the general population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relationship between key inflammatory markers and renal function in a general population sample.
- To determine if specific inflammatory markers are independently associated with reduced kidney function or microalbuminuria.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 6,067 Caucasian adults (35-75 years) in Switzerland.
- Measured serum levels of C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β).
- Assessed renal function using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and microalbuminuria (MAU) via albumin/creatinine ratio.
Main Results:
- Higher IL-6, TNF-α, and hsCRP levels, and lower IL-1β levels, were associated with lower eGFR and MAU.
- Only log-transformed TNF-α remained independently associated with lower renal function after multivariate adjustment (β -0.54).
- Higher TNF-α associated with CKD (OR 1.17), while higher IL-6 and hsCRP associated with MAU.
Conclusions:
- No significant association found between IL-6, IL-1β, hsCRP, and renal function in the general population.
- A significant association between TNF-α and renal function suggests a potential role in CKD development.
- Confirmed associations between MAU and inflammation, particularly hsCRP and IL-6.
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