Causal relationship between chronic kidney disease, renal function, and venous thromboembolism: a bidirectional...

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Genetics
• Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and impaired renal function are suspected contributors to venous thromboembolism (VTE).
• The precise causal links between renal health and VTE remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential bidirectional causal relationships between CKD, renal function biomarkers, and VTE using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Main Methods:

• Utilized genome-wide association study datasets from European individuals.
• Employed the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method as the primary MR analysis.
• Conducted sensitivity analyses including MR-Egger and weighted median approaches to ensure robustness.

Main Results:

• Elevated serum creatinine showed a suggestive association with increased risk of VTE and pulmonary embolism (PE).
• Reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) indicated a potential protective association with VTE, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and PE.
• No significant causal effects were found for CKD or blood urea nitrogen (BUN) on VTE, and reverse causality analyses yielded no meaningful results.

Conclusions:

• This MR study suggests that higher serum creatinine levels are linked to increased VTE risk, while lower eGFR may be associated with a reduced risk.
• Findings underscore the importance of considering renal function in VTE risk assessment and management.
• Further research is recommended to validate these associations and elucidate underlying biological mechanisms.