SummaryBackground and objectives Chronic kidney disease (CKD) conveys high mortality rates. Soluble TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) and long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) are predictors of mortality in dialysis patients and determinants of endothelial dysfunction. Now, we hypothesize that both sTWEAK and PTX3 act as biomarkers of cardiovascular outcomes in nondialysis CKD patients.Design, setting, participants, & measurements Cross-sectional analysis in which flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and intima-media thickness (IMT) were assessed in 257 nondialysis stage 1 to 5 CKD patients (mean age, 52 Ϯ 12 years; 130 men), together with biochemical measurements and sTWEAK and PTX3 assessments. Patients were followed for cardiovascular outcomes.Results PTX3 and IMT increased, whereas FMD and sTWEAK decreased across CKD stages (P Ͻ 0.001 for all). Both PTX3 and sTWEAK appeared as strong determinants of FMD in multivariate analysis. The univariate associations of sTWEAK and PTX3 with IMT were dependent on estimated GFR. After a median of 39 months (range, 2 to 43 months), 22 fatal and 57 nonfatal cardiovascular events occurred. In a Cox model excluding PTX3, decreasing sTWEAK concentration was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events independently of basic confounders (age, gender, estimated GFR, C reactive protein, diabetes, and cardiovascular comorbidity) and FMD. In a model excluding sTWEAK, circulating levels of PTX3 were directly associated with cardiovascular outcomes independently of basic confounders, but this association was lost after adjustment for FMD.Conclusions Both PTX3 and sTWEAK levels associated with the endothelial dysfunction observed with progressive kidney failure. Additionally, both biomarkers impacted the predictability of cardiovascular outcomes.
Endothelial dysfunction, arterial thickening and inflammation occur in parallel with the decline in eGFR, contributing to the increased cardiovascular risk of nondialysed CKD. Our results support the use of FMD over IMT measurements to monitor nondialysed CKD patients at risk.
Objective: The relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and hypogonadism has always been investigated in study groups confounded with aging, obesity or chronic metabolic disorders. So far, there has been no data about the presence of MS in young hypogonadal patients. Also, there is controversial data about the metabolic effects of testosterone replacement therapy. We investigated the frequency of MS in treatment-naïve, young men with congenital hypogonadal hypogonadism (CHH). We also searched for the effect of testosterone replacement on the metabolic profiles of this specific patient group. Design: Retrospective analysis. Methods: A total of 332 patients (age 21.68G2.09 years) were enrolled. The control group included 395 age-and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy young men (age 21.39G1.49 years). Standard regimen of testosterone esters (250 mg/3 weeks) was given to 208 patients. Results: MS was more prevalent in CHH (P!0.001) according to healthy controls. The patients had higher arterial blood pressure, waist circumference (WC), triglyceride (P!0.001 for all), fasting glucose (PZ0.02), fasting insulin (PZ0.004), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (PZ0.002) and lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P!0.001) levels. After 5.63G2.6 months of testosterone treatment, the BMI, WC (P!0.001 for both), systolic blood pressure (PZ0.002) and triglyceride level (PZ0.04) were increased and the total and HDL cholesterol levels were decreased (PZ0.02 and P!0.001 respectively). Conclusions: This study shows increased prevalence of MS and unfavorable effects of testosterone replacement in young patients with CHH. Long-term follow-up studies are warranted to investigate the cardiovascular safety of testosterone treatment in this specific population.
Hypertensive patients have strong evidence of endothelial dysfunction. We aimed to explore the relationships between cardiovascular risk factors and arterial stiffness parameters in hypertensive patients. The study population included 109 hypertensive patients (63 females, 46 males). Arterial stiffness measures including pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, and central aortic pressure were applied. Augmentation index and central aortic pressure were found to be significantly higher (P < .001 and P = .03, respectively) in women. The higher augmentation index and central aortic pressure values were observed in women than in men. These data offer new evidences for the role of sex hormones in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in women.
Background: Microalbuminuria (MA) is common in hypertensive population and is a marker for endothelial dysfunction and a predictor of increased cardiovascular risk. A great body of data shows the importance of MA as a strong predictor of renal and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in hypertensive population. Aim: In this study, we aimed to compare the antialbuminuric effects of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, valsartan, with a calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. Material and methods: Totally, 20 patients were recruited into the study. Patients were randomized to one of the following intervention protocols: An (a) angiotensin II receptor blocker (valsartan, 80-320 mg/day) or (b) calcium channel blocker (amlodipine, 5-10 mg/day), for 12 weeks immediately after baseline measurements. Ten patients were randomized into valsartan group and 10 patients into the amlodipine group. Twenty-four-hour urinary albumin excretion (UAE) levels of the patient groups were measured before treatment and on the 12th week. Results: Patients of the two groups were matched for age and body mass index. In the amlodipine group, baseline urine microalbumin levels were higher compared to valsartan group, although the difference was not statistically significant (p ¼ 0.082). At the 12th week, there was a significant decrease in urine microalbumin levels in the amlodipine group, but no significant change was observed in the valsartan group. Conclusion: Amlodipine seems to be superior to valsartan in decreasing UAE. To reduce cardiovascular risks, endothelial dysfunction, and microinflammation, these factors are taken into consideration while prescribing antihypertensive drugs in hypertensive patients.
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