Alkaline phosphatase affects renal function in never-treated hypertensive patients: effect modification by age

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP) elevation is a known risk factor for mortality in chronic kidney disease and normal renal function patients.
• Renal function plays a crucial role in overall health prognosis.
• The relationship between ALP and renal function, particularly in hypertensive individuals, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) in a large cohort of never-treated uncomplicated hypertensive patients.
• To determine if ALP is an independent predictor of renal function in this population.
• To explore the influence of age on the relationship between ALP and e-GFR.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 2157 never-treated uncomplicated hypertensive patients with normal ALP levels was analyzed.
• Statistical analyses, including correlation and multiple linear regression, were used to assess the relationship between ALP and e-GFR.
• The impact of age as a modifier on the ALP-e-GFR association was specifically examined.

Main Results:

• A strong inverse relationship was observed between e-GFR and ALP levels (r = -0.43, P < 0.0001) in the entire cohort.
• ALP was identified as the second independent predictor of renal function.
• Age significantly modulated the effect of ALP on e-GFR, with a more pronounced reduction in e-GFR for a given ALP increase in older individuals.

Conclusions:

• A significant relationship exists between ALP levels and e-GFR in uncomplicated hypertensive patients.
• This association is modulated by age, indicating a differential impact of ALP on renal function across different age groups.
• The findings persisted after adjusting for potential confounders, highlighting the clinical relevance of ALP in assessing renal function in hypertension.