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Updated: Dec 13, 2025

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Monocyte counts are negatively associated with ankle-brachial index values in non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney
1Department of Internal Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
Insights
Monocyte counts are linked to lower ankle-brachial index (ABI) values in non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD) patients. Higher monocyte levels may indicate a greater risk of peripheral arterial disease in this population.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), assessed by ankle-brachial index (ABI), is a common complication in CKD patients.
- Leukocyte subtypes may play a role in the pathogenesis of PAD in CKD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between leukocyte subtypes and ABI values in patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD (NDD-CKD).
- To identify specific leukocyte markers that correlate with reduced ABI, indicating PAD risk.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 79 NDD-CKD patients and 21 controls.
- ABI measurement using an ABI-form device.
- Automated analysis of total and differential leukocyte counts.
- Classification of CKD patients based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
Main Results:
- Monocyte counts and monocyte-to-total leukocyte count ratio (MTR) were significantly higher in patients with ABI <1.10.
- Monocyte count (r=-0.341, p=0.044) and MTR (r=-0.346, p=0.031) showed a negative correlation with ABI values.
- Multivariate analysis confirmed a negative association between monocyte count and ABI (β=-1.825, p=0.013).
- Monocyte counts demonstrated predictive value for ABI <1.10 (AUC=0.695, p=0.002).
Conclusions:
- Monocyte count is negatively associated with ABI values in NDD-CKD patients without apparent peripheral arterial occlusive disorder (PAOD).
- Elevated monocyte levels may serve as a potential biomarker for PAD risk in NDD-CKD.
- Further research is warranted to explore the mechanistic link between monocytes and PAD in CKD.
Abstract:
Our aim was to determine which leukocyte subtypes are most relevant to ankle-brachial index (ABI) values in patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD). The study included 79 NDD-CKD patients aged 62.84 ± 12.09 years (63.33% men; 26.67% patients with diabetes) and 21 age-matched normal controls. According to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated by the CKD-Epidemiology Collaboration equation (CKD-EPI), we classified the study population into 2 groups (21 subjects with NDD-CKD with an eGFR 60-89 mL/min/1.73m2, 58 subjects with NDD-CKD with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). ABI was calculated as the ratio of the ankle systolic BP divided by the arm systolic BP using an ABI-form device. An automated hematologic analyzer was used to measure total and differential leukocyte counts. Monocyte counts and monocyte-to-total leukocyte count ratios (MTR) in patients with an ABI value <1.10 were significantly higher than those in patients with an ABI value ≥1.10, respectively. Univariate analyses revealed that mean ABI values were negatively correlated with monocyte count (r= -0.341; p = 0.044), MTR (r= -0.346, p = 0.031). Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that monocyte count was negatively associated with ABI values (β ± SE = -1.825 ± 0.341, p = 0.013). The area under the curve of monocyte counts was 0.695 (95% confidence interval 0.586-0.804, p = 0.002) in predicting an ABI value <1.10. Monocyte counts are negatively associated with ABI values in patients with NDD-CKD without apparent peripheral arterial occlusive disorder (PAOD).
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