Association of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio with Calcification and Cardiovascular Markers in Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the association between Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW) and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), simple, rapidly assessed markers from the complete blood count with vascular calcification (VC)/stiffness and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dephosphorylated, uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein (dp-ucMGP), and central/peripheral hemodynamics’ parameters were measured in 158 CKD patients, including Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis. Spearman’s rho analysis showed that RDW correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.29, p p = p = 0.02), and albuminuria (r = −0.17, p = 0.03). NLR correlated with the duration of CVD (r = 0.32, p p = 0.01), dp-ucMGP (r = 0.43, p p p = 0.04). In multiple regression models, circulating dp-ucMGP was an independent predictor of RDW (β = 0.001, p = 0.001) and NLR (β = 0.002, p = 0.002). In CKD patients, RDW and NLR are associated with traditional and novel markers of VC and CVD.

Keywords

• cardiovascular disease
• chronic kidney disease
• dephosphorylatyed uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein
• endothelial dysfunction
• inflammation
• red blood cell distribution width