Association of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol With GFR Decline in a General Nondiabetic Population

Clinical Outcomes in Patients with CKD and Rapid or Non-rapid eGFR Decline: A Report from the DISCOVER CKD Retrospective Cohort

INTRODUCTION

This analysis examined the baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and rapid or non-rapid estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline, using retrospective data from DISCOVER CKD (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04034992).

METHODS

Data (2008-2020) were extracted from UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, US TriNetX, US Limited Claims and Electronic Health Record Dataset, and Japan Medical Data Vision. Patients with CKD (two consecutive eGFR measures < 75 mL/min/1.73 m2 recorded 90-730 days apart) were included. Rapid eGFR decline was defined as an annual decline of > 4 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 2 years post-index; non-rapid eGFR decline was defined as an annual decline of ≤ 4 mL/min/1.73 m2. Clinical outcomes assessed included all-cause mortality, kidney outcomes (composite risk of kidney failure [progression to CKD stage 5] or > 50% eGFR decline, and kidney failure alone), cardiovascular events-including major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; non-fatal myocardial infarction/stroke and cardiovascular death)-and all-cause hospitalization.

RESULTS

Across databases, rapid eGFR decline occurred in 13.7% of 804,237 eligible patients. Mean annual eGFR decline ranged between - 6.21 and - 6.86 mL/min/1.73 m2 in patients with rapid eGFR decline versus between - 0.11 and - 0.77 mL/min/1.73 m2 in patients with non-rapid eGFR decline. Rapid eGFR decline was associated with increased comorbidity burden and medication prescriptions. Across databases, the composite risk of kidney failure or > 50% decline in eGFR was significantly greater in patients with rapid versus non-rapid eGFR decline (P < 0.01); all-cause mortality, kidney failure alone, MACE, and all-cause hospitalization each significantly increased in two databases (P < 0.01-0.05).

CONCLUSION

Understanding patient factors associated with rapid eGFR decline in patients with CKD may help identify individuals who would benefit from proactive management to minimize the risk of adverse outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT04034992.

Longitudinal changes in renal parenchymal volume and function status after partial nephrectomy: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The ipsilateral renal parenchymal volume (RPV) experiences a sharp decrease shortly after partial nephrectomy (PN), mainly due to surgical remove or devascularization of kidney tissue. However, the subsequent change of RPV and its association with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) fast decline remains unknown. Our objective was to investigate the change of ipsilateral RPV and renal function status from new baseline (1-12 months after PN) to latest follow-up (≥1 year) after PN, and to explore factors associated with ipsilateral RPV decrease rate and correlation between RPV decrease and GFR fast decline.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of 367 patients with PN was conducted. Three-dimensional reconstruction of computed tomography (CT)/MRI images was performed for RPV calculation. Spectrum score was used to assess the degree of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the operated kidney after PN. GFR decline greater than 3 ml/min/1.73 m 2 /year was defined as GFR fast decline. One hundred fourteen patients underwent abdominal surgery was used as control. Predictive factors for subsequent decrease of RPV rate and GFR fast decline were evaluated by linear and logistic regression, respectively.

RESULTS

With a median interval time of 21.1 (interquartile range:13.8-35.5) months, median ipsilateral RPV significantly decreased from 118.7 (interquartile range:100.7-137.1) ml at new baseline to 111.8 (IQR: 92.3-131.3) ml at latest follow-up. The interval time [β: 1.36(0.71-2.01), P <0.001] and spectrum score [β: 5.83 (2.92-8.74), P <0.001] were identified as independent predictors of ipsilateral RPV decrease rate. GFR fast decline was observed in 101 (27.5%) patients. Annual ipsilateral RPV decrease rate [odds ratio:1.67 (1.05-2.67), P =0.03] and overweight [odds ratio:1.63 (1.02-2.60), P =0.04] were independent predictors of GFR fast decline.

CONCLUSIONS

Ipsilateral RPV experienced a moderate but significant decrease during follow-up after PN, especially in those with severer acute kidney injury. The presence of GFR fast decline was found to be associated with reduction of ipsilateral RPV, particularly in overweight individuals.

Total Outflow of High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesteryl Esters from Plasma Is Decreased in a Model of 3/4 Renal Mass Reduction

(1) Background: Previous studies have enriched high-density lipoproteins (HDL) using cholesteryl esters in rabbits with a three-quarter reduction in functional renal mass, suggesting that the kidneys participate in the cholesterol homeostasis of these lipoproteins. However, the possible role of the kidneys in lipoprotein metabolism is still controversial. To understand the role of the kidneys in regulating the HDL lipid content, we determined the turnover of HDL-cholesteryl esters in rabbits with a three-quarter renal mass reduction. (2) Methods: HDL subclass characterization was conducted, and the kinetics of plasma HDL-cholesteryl esters, labeled with tritium, were studied in rabbits with a 75% reduction in functional renal mass (Ntx). (3) Results: The reduced renal mass triggered the enrichment of cholesterol, specifically cholesteryl esters, in HDL subclasses. The exchange of cholesteryl esters between HDL and apo B-containing lipoproteins (VLDL/LDL) was not significantly modified in Ntx rabbits. Moreover, the cholesteryl esters of HDL and VLDL/LDL fluxes from the plasmatic compartment tended to decrease, but they only reached statistical significance when both fluxes were added to the Nxt group. Accordingly, the fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of the HDL-cholesteryl esters was lower in Ntx rabbits, concomitantly with its accumulation in HDL subclasses, probably because of the reduced mass of renal cells requiring this lipid from lipoproteins.

Cardiovascular risk and kidney function profiling using conventional and novel biomarkers in young adults: the African-PREDICT study

BACKGROUND

Low- and middle-income countries experience an increasing burden of chronic kidney disease. Cardiovascular risk factors, including advancing age, may contribute to this phenomenon. We (i) profiled cardiovascular risk factors and different biomarkers of subclinical kidney function and (ii) investigated the relationship between these variables.

METHODS

We cross-sectionally analysed 956 apparently healthy adults between 20 and 30 years of age. Cardiovascular risk factors such as high adiposity, blood pressure, glucose levels, adverse lipid profiles and lifestyle factors were measured. Various biomarkers were used to assess subclinical kidney function, including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary albumin, uromodulin and the CKD273 urinary proteomics classifier. These biomarkers were used to divide the total population into quartiles to compare extremes (25th percentiles) on the normal kidney function continuum. The lower 25th percentiles of eGFR and uromodulin and the upper 25th percentiles of urinary albumin and the CKD273 classifier represented the more unfavourable kidney function groups.

RESULTS

In the lower 25th percentiles of eGFR and uromodulin and the upper 25th percentile of the CKD273 classifier, more adverse cardiovascular profiles were observed. In multi-variable adjusted regression analyses performed in the total group, eGFR associated negatively with HDL-C (β= -0.44; p < 0.001) and GGT (β= -0.24; p < 0.001), while the CKD273 classifier associated positively with age and these same risk factors (age: β = 0.10; p = 0.021, HDL-C: β = 0.23; p < 0.001, GGT: β = 0.14; p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Age, lifestyle and health measures impact kidney health even in the third decade.

Effect of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) on renal outcome in patients with nephrotic syndrome complicated with steroid-induced diabetes mellitus(SIDM)

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the renal prognosis of patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) complicated with steroid-induced diabetes mellitus (SIDM), the association of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) before glucocorticoid treatment with renal prognosis, and the risk for persistent diabetes among patients with INS who had withdrawn from steroid therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 239 patients with INS complicated with SIDM at the National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, from January 2008 to December 2019. The primary endpoint was the composite renal outcome defined as the development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or a 50% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for more than 24 months after glucocorticoid withdrawal. The secondary endpoint was persistent diabetes, defined as fulfilling the criteria for diagnosing diabetes or using antidiabetic medications for at least 24 months after glucocorticoid withdrawal.

RESULTS

After glucocorticoid withdrawal for over 24 months, 35 (14.6%) patients reached the composite renal endpoint: end-stage renal disease (n = 14) or a 50% decrease in eGFR (n = 21). Before glucocorticoid therapy, a level of HDL-C greater than 1.45 mmol/L worsened renal survival in patients with INS complicated with SIDM. The log₁₀ the level of HDL-C before glucocorticoid treatment was an independent risk factor for the renal outcome. A prediction model was generated: Hazard ratio (renal outcome) = 0.94 * hypertension before glucocorticoid therapy + 2.29 * log₁₀ level of HDL-C before glucocorticoid treatment + 0.90 * the grade of interstitial tubule injury (AUROC, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.87; P < 0.01). Meanwhile, a level of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) before glucocorticoid treatment greater than 5.2 mmol/L enhanced the likelihood of persistent diabetes for at least 24 months after glucocorticoid withdrawal.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased level of HDL-C before glucocorticoid therapy was independently associated with a higher risk for renal outcome and thus may be useful in the renal prognosis of patients with INS complicated with SIDM.