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Alpha-1-microglobulin: Prognostic value in chronic kidney disease
Nicolás R Robles1, Juan Lopez Gomez2, Guadalupe Garcia Pino3
1Servicio de Nefrología, Hospital Universitario de Badajoz, Badajoz, España; Cátedra de Riesgo Cardiovascular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España.
Objectives:
α1-microglobulin (α1M) is a tubular protein used for detecting acute lesions of proximal tubules. This study evaluated the use of urine α1M excretion as a marker of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and life survival.
Design And Methods:
In all 163 patients were recruited (90 men), mean age 61.6±16.4 years. Urinary α1M was evaluated using an immunonephelometric assay. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to urinary α1M excretion (cut-off value: 32.85mg/24h).
Results:
End stage renal disease-free survival was 94.2% at 5 years for patients with lower α1M. For patients in the highest percentile, renal function survival was 72.7% (P=.011). Life survival was 94.4% for patients with α1M in the lower percentiles. For patients in the upper percentile, live survival was 54.2% (P=.001). The Cox regression analysis showed an independent association of CKD progression with high α1M excretion (P=.043).
Conclusions:
α1M urinary excretion was associated with faster CKD progression and higher mortality. Further studies are needed to determine whether the association between α1M urinary excretion and excess mortality risk represents a causal link.
Insights
High urine alpha1-microglobulin (α1M) levels indicate faster chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and increased mortality risk. This biomarker may help predict patient outcomes in kidney disease.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Biomarkers
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Alpha1-microglobulin (α1M) is a protein filtered by renal tubules.
- Elevated α1M in urine can indicate acute kidney injury.
- Its role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and survival is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate urine α1M excretion as a predictor of CKD progression.
- To assess the association between urine α1M levels and patient survival.
Main Methods:
- 163 patients with CKD were recruited.
- Urinary α1M levels were measured using an immunonephelometric assay.
- Patients were stratified based on urinary α1M excretion levels.
Main Results:
- Patients with higher α1M excretion had significantly lower renal function survival (72.7% vs. 94.2% at 5 years, P=.011).
- Higher α1M levels were associated with reduced life survival (54.2% vs. 94.4%, P=.001).
- Cox regression confirmed high α1M excretion as an independent predictor of CKD progression (P=.043).
Conclusions:
- Urinary α1M excretion is linked to accelerated CKD progression.
- Elevated α1M levels correlate with increased mortality risk in CKD patients.
- Further research is required to establish causality between α1M and mortality.
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