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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Lipids, inflammation, and chronic kidney disease: a SHARP perspective.
David D Waters1, Liffert Vogt2
1Division of Cardiology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California, USA.
Inflammation, indicated by C-reactive protein, is linked to chronic kidney disease progression and nonvascular events. While statin therapy reduced cardiovascular events, it did not rule out inflammation
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Inflammation research
Background:
- Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a key factor in chronic kidney disease (CKD) development and progression.
- Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are associated with adverse outcomes in CKD patients.
- The Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP) trial investigated cardiovascular events in CKD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between baseline inflammation markers and cardiovascular/nonvascular events in CKD patients.
- To evaluate the effect of simvastatin/ezetimibe on cardiovascular events in relation to baseline CRP levels.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of baseline CRP and LDL-C levels in relation to event risk within the SHARP trial cohort.
- Assessment of cardiovascular event reduction by simvastatin/ezetimibe, stratified by baseline CRP levels.
Main Results:
- Higher baseline CRP and LDL-C levels were independently associated with increased cardiovascular event risk.
- Higher baseline CRP levels were also linked to a greater risk of nonvascular events.
- Simvastatin/ezetimibe effectively reduced cardiovascular events, irrespective of baseline CRP levels.
Conclusions:
- While simvastatin/ezetimibe benefits cardiovascular health in CKD patients, the role of inflammation as a causal factor requires further investigation.
- Inflammation remains a critical area of study for understanding and managing cardiovascular disease in the context of chronic kidney disease.
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