Bilirubin Links <i>HO-1</i> and <i>UGT1A1*28</i> Gene Polymorphisms to Predict Cardiovascular Outcome in Patients Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis

Abstract

Serum bilirubin levels, which are determined by a complex interplay of various enzymes, including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and uridine diphosphate–glucuronosyl transferase (UGT1A1), may be protective against progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in hemodialysis patients. However, the combined effect of HO-1 and UGT1A1*28 gene polymorphisms on CVD outcomes among hemodialysis patients is still unknown. This retrospective study enrolled 1080 prevalent hemodialysis patients and the combined genetic polymorphisms of HO-1 and UGT1A1 on serum bilirubin were analyzed. Endpoints were CVD events and all-cause mortality. Mean serum bilirubin was highest in patients with S/S + S/L of the HO-1 promoter and UGT1A1 7/7 genotypes (Group 1), intermediate in those with S/S + S/L of the HO-1 promoter and UGT1A1 7/6 + 6/6 genotypes (Group 2), and lowest in the carriers with the L/L HO-1 promoter and UGT1A1 7/6 + 6/6 genotypes (Group 3) (p HO-1 and UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms were associated with CVD among patients receiving chronic hemodialysis.

Keywords

• cardiovascular events
• <i>heme oxygenase-1</i>
• hemodialysis
• mortality
• <i>UGT1A1</i>