Are Platelet-Related Parameters Prognostic Predictors of Renal and Cardiovascular Outcomes in IgA Nephropathy?

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is associated with chronic inflammation. Platelet-related parameters, such as the platelet (PLT) count, platelet-to-albumin ratio (PAR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), were examined as potential prognostic indicators for renal and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in IgAN. We were interested in whether platelet-related parameters are risk factors for ESKD and CV events in IgAN patients. Methods: In a monocentric retrospective study, 124 IgAN patients were divided into two groups based on the cut-off value of the PAR. All-cause mortality, major CV events, and end-stage renal disease were the primary combined endpoints. Secondary endpoints, such as CV or renal endpoints, were also analyzed separately. Results: The patients' mean age was 43.7 ± 13.5 years, and the follow-up time was 124 ± 67 months. The K-M curve showed that the PLR, PAR, and PLT were strongly associated with primary combined (p = 0.002, p = 0.004, p = 0.001) and renal outcomes (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001), but not with CV outcomes in IgAN. However, when combined with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) or metabolic syndrome (MetS), the PAR was found to be a significant predictor of both primary (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and secondary outcomes (p = 0.001 and p = 0.038; p = 0.001 and p = 0.015). Additionally, the PLR correlated with albuminuria (r = -0.165, p = 0.033) and LVH (r = -0.178, p = 0.025), while PLT correlated with eGFR (r = 0.158, p = 0.040). Conclusions. Elevated PARs and PLRs may predict progression to end-stage kidney disease, but in combination with LVH and MetS, they were related to CV events in IgAN. The determination of PARs and PLRs can be useful and cost-effective parameters for assessing both cardiovascular and renal risks in IgAN.