Relationship between serum leptin levels, non-cardiovascular risk factors and mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction. Hemodialysis (HD) patients have higher mortality rate than the general population. Recent studies indicate a significant role of non-cardiovascular risk factors in for mortality in HD patients. Leptin is protein hormone and may indicate malnutrition in HD patients. Its role in mortality in these patients is being examined. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum leptin levels and non-cardiovascular risk factors and relationship between leptin level and mortality in HD patients.Methods. The prospective study included 93 patients on maintenance HD and follow-up period was 12 months. We measured leptin level and evaluated non-cardiovascular risk factors: nutritional status, anemia, volemia, parameters of mineral and bone disorder.Results. Out of 93 patients 9 died during study and 1 underwent kidney transplantation. Malnutrition and hypervolemia were two main non-cardiovascular risk factors among deceased subjects. Leptin showed a significant direct correlation with nutritional BMI (r = 0.72, P < 0.001), fat tissue index (r = 0.74, P < 0.001) and statistically significant inverse correlation with leantissue index (r = -0.349, P < 0.05) and inverse correlation with volemic parameters (overhydration / extracellular water ratio (r = -0.38, P < 0.001), but no association with anemia and mineral bone parameters was observed. Elevated leptin levels were associated with better survival. However, no statistically significant difference in survival rates was observed between the study groups (Log-Rank P =0.214, Breslow P =0.211, Tarone-Ware P=0.212).Conclusion. Deceased patients had significantly lower leptin values. Leptin was associated with two non-cardiovascular risk factors for mortality: malnutrition and hypervolemia.

Relationship Between Leptin Level, Inflammation, and Volume Status in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients.

Maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients often experience fluctuations of volume status. Although hypervolemia possibly induces systemic inflammation, the relationship between volume status and leptin has not yet been well defined. The aims of this study were to determine the levels of leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin in relation to volume status and to assess the relationship between leptin and volume and inflammatory status in chronic HD patients. This prospective study included 93 HD patients divided, based on evaluation using the body composition monitor, into normovolemic and hypervolemic groups (overhydration/extracellular water [OH/ECW] ≤ 15% and OH/ECW > 15%, respectively). The levels of leptin and inflammatory markers (CRP, ferritin) were determined during a mid-week dialysis session in all patients. There were more hypervolemic patients after 12 months of follow up than at baseline (41% vs. 38%). Hypervolemic patients had significantly lower leptin levels (11.42 ± 19.24 ng/mL vs. 34.53 ± 40.32 ng/mL at baseline and 13.41 ± 22.04 ng/mL vs. 41.54 ± 21.78 ng/mL at 12 months), longer time on dialysis, and poorer nutritional status than normovolemic patients. Inflammation was present regardless of the volume status, but hypervolemic patients had significantly higher CRP and ferritin than normovolemic patients. A statistically significant reverse correlation was found between leptin level, hyperhydration index, and OH/ECW. No significant correlation was found between leptin and inflammatory markers CRP and ferritin.

FGF23 Level and Intima-Media Thickness Are Elevated From Early Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Considering high cardiovascular (CV) risk in chronic kidney disease (CKD), the aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the association between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 as important players in CV pathophysiology. Eighty-seven patients with mean estimated glomerular filtration rate 40.1 mL/min per 1.73 m2 were involved. FGF23 and IMT were elevated from early stages of CKD. Mean IMT value was 1.10 ± 0.20 mm, being significantly elevated starting from early CKD, showing no correlation with FGF23 (r = -0.01, P = -0.91). Unlike the FGF23 level that followed worsening of kidney function, IMT was increasing only in the initial CKD stages, with no further increase from CKD stage 3 on. Although we found no direct association between current use of vitamin D and statin therapy, this may be associated with the sustained reference values of lipid and vitamin D status under treatment that further preclude worsening of IMT in patients with advanced CKD.

Correlation of the body mass index and calcium nephrolithiasis in adult population.

INTRODUCTION: Prevalence of the kidney stones (renal calculi) increase in several countries in parallel with the increase of overweight, diabetes (type 2 diabetes) and hypertension. GOAL: The goal of our research was to evaluate the connection between the calcium nephrolithiasis and overweight, as quantified using the Body Mass Index (BMI) of the adult population, with a particular reflection on the age groups within it. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was prospective and it was implemented at the Clinical Center of Banja Luka, at the Urology Clinic in the period from 1(st) April 2012 to 1(st) January 2013. The trial encompassed 120 patients with calcium nephrolithiasis of the upper part of the urinary tract and 120 patients without nephrolithiasis. A group of patients with the calcium nephrolithiasis presented a working group, while a group of patients without nephrolithiasis presented a control group. The BMI obtained on the basis of bodily weight and height of the patient, where the age and sex of specific reference values of the BMI were developed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were not used in the calculation of the BMI. RESULTS: Analyzing the values of the BMI in relation to age groups, where there was a statistically significant difference in the working group, whereas in the control group there was a statistically high significant difference, testing of statistical significance of the average value of the BMI was done by observed age groups of working and control group, as well as to the total sample of work and control group using the Chi-Square test and T-test for independent samples. Having observed the age group of 20-40 years, statistically significant differences have been noted at the level of risk of 10%, which confirms that there is a connection between the categories of the BMI and the group, which the patient comes from (Chi-Square test p-0.05), that is, T-test has shown that the values are different at the level of 10%, i.e. p<0.1 (p=0.073). Having observed the age group 40-60, there was no dependency between the category of the BMI and the group, that is, the differences are not statistically significant, p>0.05 (t-test p=0.314). In addition to this, the average BMI values are not significantly different, p>0.05 (t-test p=0.871). Having observed the age group of the older than 60, there was no dependency between the category of the BMI and the group, that is, the differences are not statistically significant, p>0.05 (Chi-square test p=0.167). Having observed the total sample of the working and control group, there was no dependency of the category of the BMI and the group (or urolithiasis), p>0.05 (Chi-Square test p=1.208), whereas the results of the T-test showed that there was no statistically significant difference of the arithmetic mean values of the BMI working group and control group, p>0.05 (t-test p=0.620). CONCLUSION: Overweight in younger age groups of adult population may be connected to the occurrence of calcium nephrolithiasis, thus we suggest that urolithiasis should be considered with them, as part of overweight, by which a change of living habits and the manner of food consumption could prevent this disease.

[The role of autonomic cardiovascular neuropathy in pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease in patients with diabetes mellitus].

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is strongly associated with macrovascular complications, among which ischemic heart disease is the major cause of mortality. Autonomic neuropathy increases the risk of complications, which calls for an early diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine both presence and extent of cardiac autonomic neuropathy, in regard to the type of diabetes mellitus, as well as its correlation with coronary disease and major cardiovascular risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have examined 90 subjects, classified into three groups, with 30 patients each: those with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and control group of healthy subjects. All patients underwent cardiovascular tests (Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing test, response to standing, blood pressure response to standing sustained, handgrip test), electrocardiogram, treadmill exercise test and filled out a questionnaire referring to major cardiovascular risk factors: smoking, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: Our results showed that cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was more frequent in type 2 diabetes, manifesting as autonomic neuropathy. In patients with autonomic neuropathy, regardless of the type of diabetes, the treadmill test was positive, i.e. strongly correlating with coronary disease. In regard to coronary disease risk factors, the most frequent correlation was found for obesity and hypertension. DISCUSSION: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is considered to be the principal cause of arteriosclerosis and coronary disease. Our results showed that the occurrence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy increases the risk of coronary disease due to dysfunction of autonomic nervous system. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes that significantly correlates with coronary disease. Early diagnosis of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy points to increased cardiovascular risk, providing a basis for preventive and therapeutic measures.