Serum elabela and apelin levels during different stages of chronic kidney disease

The association of serum elabela (ELA) and apelin with the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unknown. We determined if serum ELA and apelin levels were associated with CKD stage.

This observational study involved 60 CKD patients and 20 healthy, age-, race-, and gender-matched controls. The participants were grouped according to renal function as follows: normal control group, CKD1 group (stage-1 CKD, 20 patients), CKD3 group (stage-3 CKD, 20 patients), and CKD5 group (stage-5 CKD, 20 patients) in accordance with the Kidney Disease Outcomes - Quality Initiative criteria. We recorded the demographic, clinical, and biochemical data of all participants. Serum ELA and apelin levels were measured using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Serum ELA levels gradually and significantly declined with decreases in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Serum ELA showed significant negative correlations with serum creatinine (r = -0.529, p < .001), blood urea nitrogen (r = -0.575, p < .001), systolic blood pressure (r = -0.455, p < .001), and diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.450, p < .001), and significant positive correlations with hemoglobin (r = 0.523, p < .001) and eGFR (r = 0.728, p < .001). Multiple regression analysis showed that eGFR independently influenced serum ELA levels. No significant association was found between serum apelin levels and CKD progression.

In CKD patients, serum ELA levels decreased with decreasing eGFR. This finding may provide a new target for the prediction, diagnosis, and staging of CKD.